Following the increasing number of persons
living in Internally Displaced Persons Camps in the country, the Federal
Government, through the Ministry of Health has declared a nutritional emergency
in Borno State.
The government has also mobilized a rapid
response team to coordinate efforts to assess the situation.
Senior Special Assistant to the
Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a
statement on Friday.
Akande said in its determination to bring
relief to the persons recently rescued from the hands of Boko Haram and to
ensure their well-being in the IDP camps, the Federal Government has conducted
an on-the spot assessment at the camp in Bama.
Mr Akande disclosed that the delegation was led by
the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, Mrs. Maryam Uwais.
He quoted Uwais as restating government’s
commitment to bringing relief to the thousands of recently rescued Boko Haram
captives currently hosted in the IDP camp in Bama.
“We’re here to see for ourselves the situation
on the ground here,” she was quoted as saying.
Describing the development as “a crisis
situation,” Uwais assured everyone that the Federal Government would work with
the state government, international community, local partners and civil society
groups to ensure that all the needs of the inhabitants of Bama camp, and the
several others like it, are speedily met.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President
on IDPs, Dr Mariam Masha also said that alongside the humanitarian work, the
Federal and State Governments are focusing on the longer-term work of ensuring
that reconstruction and resettlement are effectively hastened to enable the
IDPs return to their homes and communities, and rebuild their lives and
livelihoods.
She added that as the military continues its
task of liberating hitherto isolated communities from the grip of Boko Haram,
the scale of the humanitarian crisis is certain to increase. She called for
increased support from all partners and stakeholders.
The delegation, which included senior officials
of the Borno State Government, NEMA officials, the State Emergency Management Agency, and representatives from the
United Nations, was said to have been taken around the camp –home to 25,000
adults and children — by the Brigade Commander of the 21 Armoured Brigade,
Bama, Colonel Adamu Garba Laka.
The Commander highlighted the challenges faced
by the camp, including shortages of medical personnel, shelter, water and
sanitation facilities.
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