We have less than 10,000 IDPs in Adamawa camps — Official

Mr Sa’ad Bello, the Coordinator, Adamawa/Taraba National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Friday, said there were currently less than 10,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Adamawa camps.

Bello told the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Yola that there were, however, about
170,000 IDPs residing in host communities across the state.

He said that “there is significant reduction of IDPs living in camps in the state; the number reduced from over 60,000 to less than 10,000.

“At the peak of the insurgency,  the agency recorded over 480,000 IDPs residing in host communities but now, there are about 170,000 IDPs living within the host communities.”

The coordinator explained that the departure of many from camps led to closure of four camps out of the nine in the state.

On feeding and accommodation, he said it was being handled by NEMA, in collaboration with other humanitarian agencies.

He said each camp also had a clinic, where the affected were being attended to, while those with serious ailments were being referred to Yola Specialist Hospital or the  Federal Medical Centre, Yola.

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He said “we also provide children with educational centre’s such as  primary and Junior Secondary Schools.”

He noted that food and non-food items like mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets, were also given to IDPs, as NEMA was also responsible for water supply in all designated camps in the state.

He added that the agency also encourages daily, week-end and monthly sanitation of their rooms and surroundings to ensure hygienic environment.

He said IDPs had the right to move in and out of the camp because they had the right to interact with outside communities “but after obtaining a pass.

“The IDPs have right to move in and out of the camps, but before they move, they must be screened thoroughly by security operatives manning the camps.

“The security in the camps usually provide gate pass for any IDP that wants to go out  for security reasons.”