The United Nations (UN) Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr.
Edward Kallon, has urged Borno state government to de-congest 23
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps to prevent fire and COVID-19
outbreaks across the state.
According to him, one in two camps (50%) in Borno State are currently
overcrowded with nearly 700,000 vulnerable IDPs living in such
conditions.
Kallon in a statement Sunday in Maiduguri, lamented that: “I expressed
deep sorrow over multiple fire outbreaks that devastated the Monguno
Water board camp for IDPs, in northern Borno on 14, 15 and 18 April
and the International Secondary School camp on 16 April in the town of
Gambouru, of Ngala council.
Gambouru is a border community with Cameroon; and had been severally
attacked by Boko Haram insurgents, with loss of many lives and
property.
While sympathizing with fire victims, he said: “My heartfelt sympathy
goes to the many vulnerable families who are affected.
“These are the worst fire incidents recorded in camps for internally
displaced in the north-east so far this year.”
He disclosed that 14 people lost their lives in the fire incident in
Ngala on 16 April, while 15 others were injured, including seven are
being treated in a clinic run by aid organisations.
While lamenting on destroyed camps, he said: “Over 300 shelters were
damaged, and a communal shelter hosting 11 families also burned down.
“More than 8,000 people already displaced by the ongoing crisis once
again lost their belongings and shelters.”
According to him, aid workers are now working around the clock to
mobilise support such as food, shelter and essential items like
mattresses, pots, soap and clothes.
He further disclosed that on April, 18 another fire broke out in the
Water board camp in Monguno LGA.
He noted that this is the third fire incident recorded in the camp in a week.
“Initial assessments indicate that 100 shelters were entirely burnt
down,” he said.
While highlighting fire outbreaks in camps, Kallon said: “These
tragedies come unfortunately among a series of recurring incidents
during the dry season, despite regular awareness-raising efforts made
by the humanitarian community in IDP camps.
He said fifteen fire outbreaks have been recorded in IDP camps since
the beginning of the year affecting more than 15,000 people.
He noted that on April 14, communities in both Mafa and Monguno LGAs
were shocked by massive fires that respectively destroyed at least 200
and 100 makeshift shelters.
He lamented that an elderly person who was sleeping in one of the
shelters was burned alive.
He attributed fire outbreaks and disease spread in IDP camps to
overcrowding with makeshift and temporary shelters built too closely
together.
“I am concerned that we will keep witnessing these recurrent tragedies
unless we take urgent measures to jointly address the root cause of
the problem,” he warned.
He said with COVID-19 pandemic slowly spreading across the country,
1.8 million IDPs in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, including eight
million people are vulnerable to coronavirus and conflicts.
“Camp de-congestion has been a challenge,” he declared, stressing that
it has to be urgently prioritized to save people’s lives and property.
He therefore; called on stakeholders to urgently contribute to efforts
being made to de-congest camps in respect of people’s rights and
dignity.
Meanwhile, the UN and INGOs are working on expanding IDP camps to
mitigate the risk of fire incidents and rapid spread of diseases, like
COVID-19 virus.
He said 50 per cent of camps in Borno state, is currently over crowded
with about 700,000 IDPs living in such conditions.
Kallon also commended the engagement of Borno state government and
Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs on this issue
“It is our duty to do our utmost to protect the most vulnerable from
another tragedy, whether it is a fire or the COVID-19 virus,” declares
Kallon.
