THE recent successes of the military in the liberation of communities that were occupied by insurgents opened a new vista in the drive to support the people that were directly affected by the insecurity in the North eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.  Since 2009 following the escalation of the belligerence by Boko Haram, many lives have been lost, communities sacked and destroyed resulting in the fleeing of the residents to safety in various location considered safer, thus becoming internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The initial collection of the IDPs in few areas soon became more serious when more towns and communities became affected with sharp increase in the number of displaced persons. This was to become worse as the insurgents went on to occupied some of the local government areas in the three states. However, the Federal Government’s response to the crises have been in two folds with military action to restore security as well as humanitarian intervention spearheaded by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

From the onset of the escalation of the insecurity to date, NEMA has continued to keep faith with the mandate given it towards the provision of basic supports to the IDPs. The agency, working with the stakeholders activated its National Contingency Plans in deploying the supports to everywhere the IDPs were found. At the heights of the displacement, the immediate neighbouring states including Gombe, Taraba, Bauchi, Plateau and as far as Kano, Abuja among others became the shelter of safety for the IDPs.

There, NEMA was also with them distributing relief supports and providing necessary assistance required to alleviate their conditions.  As at April this year, the number of IDPs in camps and host communities stood at 22, 882 in Adamawa State; 939, 290 in Borno; 139, 591 in Yobe States. In Bauchi the figure stood at 84, 667, Gombe 42, 587 and Taraba 62, 689.

With time, most of the camps that had sprang up spontaneously were reorganised for better management and care for the IDPs. NEMA deploy its officers that are permanently stationed in the camps to manage and assist the people in every area of their basic needs. This is in addition to the regular delivery of relief supports comprising of both food and non-food items that are stockpiled and easily available for distribution .

The Director General made it a point of priority to regularly review the condition of the IDPs and camp through personal visits as well as fortnightly humanitarian forum which brought together the stakeholders to discuss and fine tune the best available approaches. The forum comprises representatives of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), United Nations Systems, local and International non-governmental organizations.

Beyond the shores of Nigeria, NEMA has taken humanitarian supports to Nigerians who fled across the borders to the Republics of Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Recently too, the agency received more than 17, 000 Nigerians in Geidam, Yobe State after they were forced to return home from the Republic of Niger over security issues around the Lake Chad areas where they were engaged in their fishing businesses. A transit camp was opened to cater for the returnees before they were fully transported to their various states.

With the recent liberation of the communities that were hitherto occupied by the insurgents, the agency has also undertaken needs and damages assessment in preparation for the required supports to enable the people return to their homes.

The assessments, which were first conducted in Adamawa state saw NEMA officials with the relevant stakeholders going to the affected communities in carrying out the damage assessment in which the records showed huge losses to public infrastructure and private property. These include offices, bridges, schools, hospitals, churches, mosques, homes, banks, markets, shops, etc.  It was one of the foremost steps towards creating confidence for the return of the IDPs. As expected, some IDPs have since returned home to the communities that were found to be less damaged.

In Yobe State, though there exist fewer number of formal camps, most of the displaced persons live with host families while others have fled to neighbouring states. Over the years, relief supports delivered by NEMA are distributed to them with the help of the State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA). Also, a special needs and damage assessment have been carried out in liberated communities in the state preparatory to early return of the people to their homes. The areas visited included some of the worst affected communities which included Gujba, Gulani and Kanama.

The latest assessment was carriedout in Borno State. NEMA led an inter-ministerial committee in visiting most of the liberated and devastated communities, notable among the towns were Bama, Baga, konduga, Damboa, Biu and Monguno. The destruction in most of the communities include roads, bridges, offices, schools, worship centres, markets and shops, homes, etc.

While NEMA is continuing with the camp management and coordinating the stakeholders to support the IDPs, the agency is also focus on the preparation for their smooth return back home. Thus the assessment have provided useful data and enabled a new vistas in the caring for the IDPs.

Manzo Ezekiel of the National Emergency Management Agency, Abuja