B’Haram displaces over 1.4 million in N’East, says NEMA, IOM

THE International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA in the country yesterday disclosed that Boko Haram insurgency and incessant communal clashes among various ethnic groups in the North-East of the country have displaced over 1.4 million persons in five states of the sub-region.

The Information Officer of NEMA, Datti, yesterday in a statement said that Borno State has the highest number of IDPs of 1,002,688, while Gombe State has the least of 16,984 persons in two camps.

The statement added that following Borno was the neighbouring Yobe State with 125,484 displaced persons currently living with their relations and other family members in Damaturu, Potiskum and three other towns in northern part of the state.

The statement noted: “The report indicated that there was slight decrease in the number of IDPs compared to the last report released in April 2015, especially in Adamawa State where the IDPs’ population has decreased. In contrast, in Borno State, the IDPs’ population has however increased since April 2015 and has reached over 1.4 million.”

According to the report, 92 per cent of IDPs live with host communities, while only eight per cent live in resettlement camps or camp-like sites. The survey further indicated that 52 per cent of the IDPs are females, while 48 per cent are males.

“Children of less than 18 constitute 56 per cent of the IDPs population and more than half of them are below the age of five.

The report also highlighted that 95 per cent of the displacement was caused by Boko Haram insurgency, while five per cent was forced to leave their places of origin because of communal incessant clashes among various ethnic and religious groups.

“Regarding needs and assistance-received assessment, majority of the internally-displaced persons mentioned food as their primary need, while others listed shelter and employment.

“However, majority declared that they have either received food and non-food items or shelter assistance and some have also indicated they have never received neither relief materials nor accommodation.

“Majority of IDPs expressed desire to return to their places of origin; but security was their main condition and improvement of economic condition of their respective affected areas in the North-East”, the report further stated.