Boko Haram: UN seeks humanitarian assistance for IDPs

The United Nations has called for an urgent humanitarian assistance for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in northeast Nigeria. UN noted that about 16 local governments liberated from Boko Haram militants are currently experiencing humanitarian crisis.

The former UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Safieldin, stated that his assessment of some of the liberated local governments, including Bama, Damboa, Monguno, Konduga, Dikwa, Gwoza, Pulka, and Banki indicate their poor state.

He said “You cannot imagine the level of physical destruction of all the basic facilities such as hospitals, water supply system, schools and the homes of the individual poor people.

He added that “It is a real humanitarian crisis in terms of the number and availability of humanitarian aid at the moment.”

He made it known that no fewer than 30,000 metric tonnes of food was required monthly to feed the internally-displaced persons, IDPs, caused by the Boko Haram insurgency.

He lamented that the monthly requirement was currently not being met. “The available humanitarian aid at the moment is inadequate, whether it is coming from the government or the international community,” he added.

He revealed that IDPs living in formal camps in Maiduguri represented only 10 per cent of the population adding that 90 per cent of these IDPs live in their host communities.

“About 90 per cent of the IDPs live in host communities in Maiduguri and other urban and rural areas and they have been suffering. They do not have enough food, medical care and shelter.”