The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) taking refuge in Gombe state have called for assistance over their poor living condition at the respective settlements they are residing in the state.
The leader of IDPs in the state, Malam Abba Jatau made the call during an interactive session at their settlement with the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau and the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon.
He said about 14, 000 IDPs taking refuge in the state are having problems, which include lack of shelter and living in hunger due to lack of reliable means of livelihood.
While appreciating the hospitality of the government and people of the state, Malam Jatau appealed for more concern especially in the area of free medical services, schooling for their children and economic empowerment to enable them to foot their other bills.
Speaking earlier, Dr Jatau said resources to cater for the IDPs were overstretched due to overpopulation and the state’s limited resources and appealed for more assistance from the UN.
He assured of government’s continued commitment to the provision of basic amenities and expanding existing ones in view of the upsurge in the population at the camp.
The UN representative, Mr Edward Kallon said his team was in the state to inspect projects and interact with government officials for effective collaboration towards identifying areas of assistance.
He commended Gombe state for providing a conducive atmosphere for peaceful coexistence and managing diversity in spite of tribal and religious differences.
An official of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Malam Mohammed Garba said as, at May, 2020, there were 38, 993 IDPs spread across the 11 LGAs of the state.
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