 on Monday in Sokoto.){kind=link}
Prof. Tanko Baba, a Lecturer in Political Science Department of Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS), has advocated for holistic approach to handle Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.
Baba, who is also the Executive Secretary of ASATTAHIR Foundation, an NGO, made the suggestion in his presentation at a workshop organized by Danish Refugee Council (DRC) on Monday in Sokoto.
He explained that government cannot handle all the needs of IDPs alone stressing the need for more helping hands in order to accomplish the task of executing desired programmes.
He noted that there were no formal IDP camps in most places and displaced persons resides based on dislocations which was prompted by different reasons while affected persons decide on thier movements.
Baba observed that most of the locations housing IDPs had no basic social facilities and were not officially designated having attendant explosive magnitude of displaced persons.
According to him, the foundation since inception in 2011 had positioned it activities on IDPs in the areas of health, food and nutrition projects by providing emergency interventions especially at informal centres for displaced persons in Zamfara and Sokoto states.
” We liase with state emergency agencies, working basically on general system strategy and capacity building to reach out to crisis locations with intervention.
” We provided interventions of food items, shelter cases, sanitary packs, medications and other supports using the obtained database collected, no fewer than 5,000 persons have so far benefited, ” Baba said.
In his presentation, DRC Coordinator, Mr Samson Ayok, said DRC focus on Northwest Nigeria observing the lack of attention amidst the growing number of IDPs as a result of insecurity and other natural occurrences displacing the inhabitants.
” We are focusing on Sokoto and Zamfara states to offer rapid response to situations of displacements.
” We are building on our approach strategy by encouraging better partnership that will further drive our objectives for success.
” DRC’s interventions span across sectors including armed violence reduction, livelihoods, food security, protection, shelter and non-food items (NFI), and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), ” he explained.
Ayok added that DRC is operating in the two regions of Northeast and Northwest across four states; Adamawa, Borno, Sokoto and Zamfara states, aimed at promoting dignified life for all displaced refugees.
” DRC conducted comprehensive needs and access assessments in
Zamfara and Sokoto states, which informed increased emergency response assistance to displaced
populations in these regions.
” We equally assist and protect them from harm and safeguarding their legal rights as well empowering them towards better future.
” The Council push to encourage synergy with socioeconomic, religious and cultural organs comprising CSOs, media, opinion and community leaders to adequately respond to displace situations in Zamfara and Sokoto states, ” he said.
According to him, humanitarian needs and security situation in Northwest Nigeria have deteriorated due to inter-ethnic conflict, kidnapping, illicit mining, cattle rustling, and village raids, particularly affecting the states of
Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina.
He explained that the target was to further provide spaces to appreciably localize all strategies as well as work with other critical national organisations, NGOs to strengthen thier capacity for adequate response to situations.
” This will assist in speedy identification of crisis situations, locations and affected victims or persons for quick implementation of designed package as intervention”, he stressed.
The Coordinator commended the strategic role and efforts of the Sokoto state government on reaching out to various donor agencies for support to vulnerable displaced persons across the state
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