NEMA tackles malnutrition problem in IDP camps

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said that it had put in place machinery to tackle high rate of malnutrition in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) camps in the country.

NEMA Director General, Alhaji Sani Sidi disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Maiduguri.

Sidi said that the agency was worried over rising cases of malnutrition among the Displaced Persons.

“We are concerned as an agency of government on the issue of nutrition in the IDP camps.

“You can see for yourself that most of the IDPs are women and children, more than 70 per cent of the IDPs are women and children,” he said.

Sidi added:“We have noted the issue of malnutrition in the IDP camps, so we are working with experts like UNICEF and other partners.

“We are also collaborating with officials of Federal Ministry of Heath to ensure that the problem is addressed, especially IDPs suffering from acute malnutrition”.

He said that his visit to Borno was aimed at assessing the living conditions of the IDPs for possible improvement.

“Am here in Borno as part of my routine visits to IDP camps in the country.

“You are aware that we have IDP camps in other states too, we have in Adamawa, in Yobe and recently in Benue,” Sidi said.

He pointed out that his frequent visit to the state was based on the fact that it had more Displaced Persons than any other state in the country.

“What is important is the number of IDP camps here in Borno and the largest in the country, you are all aware that we have over 26 camps in the state alone.

“Borno alone have more than 90 per cent of IDPs in Nigeria, so you can see why we concentrate and put more efforts in the state as far as IDPs are concerned,” Sidi said

“I have come to see on what needs to be improved upon, so that we can meet with our partners, state government and other strategic partners to discuss the way forward.’’

“As a matter of fact, no country will want to have IDP camps perceptually, we are all aware of successes recorded by the military in the fight against insurgency”.

Sidi said that NEMA was focusing on relocating back the IDPs to their communities following the successes achieved by the military in liberating their communities from Boko Haram terrorists.

“We are fast moving from the emergency case to rehabilitation and reconstruction phase, we are all putting effort to see how best we can move those communities back to their homes,” he said.

The Director General, however, said that NEMA will not force IDPs back home without their consent.

“Let me say categorically clear for the avoidance of doubt that nobody will be forced out of the IDP camp, unless the communities are safe enough for people to return.

“We will not allow anybody to leave the camp from safety to harm way as far as NEMA is concerned,” Sidi said.