The Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) Tuesday donated some relief materials to the Gwoza and Bama Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Durumi I, Abuja.
The IDPs who were displaced by the 2012 flood and various communal clashes in their various states now reside in shanties at Durumi 1, where they keep looking for help from individuals, private organizations and government.
The shanties that accommodate them were crammed in a plot of land that they said was given to them by the government after they were evicted from another plot of land they were initially occupying.
The IPCR in collaboration with the Nigerian Civil Defense Corp, Develop and Safe the Nigerian Child Initiative, Foundation for Peace and Security Education and Royal Foods were at the camp to put smiles on the faces of the people with materials such as; food stuffs, clothing, mosquito nets, water and others.
Mr. Peter Opara, the Director for Internal Conflict Prevention and Resolution, IPCR in his address at the event said the objective of their visit is for peace building, adding that the IDPs have suffered from displacement and are traumatized and they know from history that most people who go through this harrowing experience if they are not properly handled and rehabilitated, they eventually turn the gun against society out of annoyance.
“What we are doing is to go to different IDPs camps to talk to them and also let them realize that the nation is with them in their distress and also show them that what is happening to them can happen to anybody in the society. They should also be rest assured that the government is handling their situation. They need not dispair because they are within their country and the country owes them a responsibility to take care of them, even up to a safe return to their homes,” he said.
Opara also said that the project seeks to guarantee for the security and the protection of rights and freedom of IDPs to take refuge in any part of the country, and above all, demand their proper rehabilitation when it becomes safe for them to return to their homes.
“It is also hoped that through this advocacy, IDPs who are today victims of some misdeeds of others would be steered away from the hatred and retaliation that turn erstwhile victims to perpetrators of violence,” he added.
The secretary to the Camp Chairman Bala Yusuf, while speaking to our reporters said they are happy for the gifts from the groups, explaining that the materials they brought are all what they lack in the camp.
“Anybody that visits you in time of trouble is a true friend and not those that visit when everything is going on well. All what they have brought are what we lack and it will help us a lot. They brought us food stuff including mosquitoes net. See where we are sleeping in shanties.
“There is no food for us because we are not working but people that know what we are going through come to visit and also bless us,” he said.
He said though the government is aware of their presence here but they are yet to receive any help directly from the government but, “everything that has been coming to us here comes from individuals and groups like these ones that come today. We had received free medical check, free water donation, support from school and so on.
Gift Orairo the National Coordinator of Develop and Save the Nigerian Child Initiative whose NGO partner with IPCR in support of the IPDs said they were there to share in the pains of the IDPs. “Our impact and concern are the children. We have our own soft spot and programme lined up for children and one of them is encouraging mothers to make sure their children go back to schools despite the situation on ground.”
The representative Nigerian Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) Mrs. Andepu Patience said they pledged to all IDPs adequate security until they are out of their various camp to their respective homes.
She also assured them that the FG is working hard to address the problems of insurgency in the Northern part of the country and as well to return them to their various habitat.
