Boko Haram: Condition of IDPs in Nigeria a humanitarian tragedy – BBOG

THE condition of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria is a humanitarian tragedy of immense proportion, according to the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) movement on Monday.

It revealed that many are still trapped in territories the government had declared free from the insurgents and habitable for normal life.

During a march to mark day 2 of its Global Week Of Action, in Abuja, the BBOG movement in a text signed by its conveners Oby Ezekwesili and Aisha Yesufu cited instances of Gwoza, Bama, Dikwa, Monguno, in Borno State said these places among others, are only accessible via military escort.

According to the text, only 2 locations in Gwoza are accessible to multinational and domestic humanitarian workers, while the rest are only accessible via military escort once a day.

While speaking on the plight of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country the BBOG stated that the missing Chibok girls were also IDPs wherever they may be.

In its explanations, it accused the government of not responding with the required urgency to matters relating to IDPs.

“Shortly after our movement began on 30 April 2014, we took up the issue of IDPs and had our first symbolic visits to IDP camps around Abuja with modest humanitarian support within our means.

“We have continually highlighted their plight but unfortunately little or nothing has of their welfare and well-being been improved.

“IDPs are dying of hunger and starvation! There are hardly any records of the scores of IDPs in and around Abuja and all over the nation.

“The IDP population in Nigeria, those in formal camps, is officially estimated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to be two million; however, the vast majority of IDPs – accounting for up to 90% of the entire IDP population – are in informal settlements and host communities, most of which are not government-recognized, as a result, they are mainly catered for by the non-governmental organizations and international humanitarian agencies.

“Our Chibok girls are themselves IDPs wherever they may be. The condition of IDPs in the Nigeria is a humanitarian tragedy of immense proportion as confirmed by several agencies,” it stated.

However, it stressed the need to treat the plight of the IDPs with the required urgency saying;”In all, our IDPs are forgotten and treated as second-class humans, and they are not! Their plight requires all the seriousness and urgency.”