By Haruna A. Yusuf
The National Commission For Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), has disclosed that the current flood witnessed in the country has increased the number persons in camps by 40 percent.
The Federal Commissioner, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, made this known at an event to mark the National Day For Internally Displaced Persons on Friday, November 4, with the theme: “The Journey So Far, Future of Durable Solutions.”
Speaking with journalists, Sulaiman-Ibrahim revealed that the National Day For IDPs was conceived and Institutionalised by (NCFRMI) and is aimed at celebrating the resilience of the IDPs’.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said, “The day is in commemoration of the adoption of the African Union convention also known as Kampala convention on October 23rd, 2009 and also serves as a platform to advocate for durable solutions for IDPs.
“To put this issue into perspective, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees( UNHCR) Matrix Index as well as the International Organization of Migrants( IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix, 2021 indicates that, there are about 3.4 million displaced persons in Nigeria; this is as a result of both man-made crisis and natural disasters”.
She added, “Incidentally, the increasing effect of climate change and particularly the debilitating effect of flooding across the country has resulted to about 40% increase in the figure of internally displaced persons bringing the number of displaced persons to about 5million. This has without doubt placed the country amongst countries with highest number if internal displacement”.
On her part, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, said she empathizes with the millions of Nigerians who have been affected by the the recent flooding episode around the country.
Farouq added that the disaster affected over a million Nigerians nationwide along with loss of homes,livelihoods and loved ones.
The Minister also said she is saddened by the Global phenomena as a result of climate change which has also doubled the number of displaced persons nationwide.
“I want to reassure all Nigerians that the Federal Government is prepared to do everything possible to mitigate the impact of this natural disaster.”
Speaking to one of the IDPs, a woman who hails from Borno state said, since she lost her husband to insurgency living her with about six (6) children to cater for, life was very difficult until the government came and trained her on tailoring which she uses the proceeds to fend for herself and children who are now going to school.
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