The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has revealed that at least 16,470 officially registered internally displaced persons (IDP) are presently living in different camps across several States in the country.
The Director-General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi said in a presentation on the protection challenges facing displaced persons at the 6th Dialogue of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) which ended in Geneva, Switzerland at the weekend that the displacement in the country was rather volatile. He explained that at the peak of the 2012 flood disaster, as high as 2.3 million persons were displaced and took refuge in camps spread across several States of the country.
“NEMA at the weekend delivered the relief assistance donated by a group of Nigerians living in the United Kingdom to the persons affected by the flood in Kogi State,” he said.
Sani Sidi attributed the causes of the displacement to both natural and human-induced factors, noting that ‘recurring floods and drought are the major natural hazards; adding that land use conflicts between pastoralists and sedentary farmers as well as ethno-religious crises and emerging terrorism constitute the main sources of human-induced displacement.
He further disclosed that the Nigerian Government has developed a mechanism for disaster risk reduction coordinated by NEMA for preventing and mitigating forced displacement. This, he said are encapsulated in the “mechanisms, systems and procedures for administering the needs of IDPs before, during and after displacement.”
The DG also noted that the agency in its effort to improve the management of the IDPs in the camps collaborated with UNHCR and IDMC in 2013 to organize training for the trainers on humanitarian / IDP protection for NGOs / CSOs / Government agencies where a total of 45 trainers were involved. He demanded for support from the UNHCR to strengthen the existing mechanism and the instrument for a more coordinated IDP management in Nigeria.
He indicated that the Country Representative of UNHCR has discussed with the agency and relevant stakeholders towards initiating a program for better registration and profiling, strengthening institutional capacity for IDP management, establishment of elaborate legal frameworks and entrenchment of durable solutions.
The relief assistance to the flood victims in Kogi State was received by Ogu Johnson Ohekutu who appreciated the kind gesture on behalf of the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Special Duties and assured that the materials will be distributed to intended beneficiaries accordingly.
Federal Government of Nigeria Press Release
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