Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state; has said that arrangements has
begun for return of 1.86 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
and refugees to 19 communities in the state.
According to him, the 300,000 refugees are to be repatriated from
Cameroon and Niger, after fleeing to taking refuge for five years over
Boko Haram terrorism.
Zulum disclosed this Monday, while receiving the Deputy Humanitarian
Coordinator for the United Nations, Alexander Kishara, at Government
House, Maiduguri.
He said that an important thing that needed to be done for returnees;
is to reduce problems of donor fatigues.
“The humanitarian needs are to provide an enabling environment for
IDPs and refugees restore their means of livelihoods,” he said.
He said displaced persons, are to return to 19 communities, including
Damasak, Banki, Kauwuri, Ajiri, New Marte, Baga, Ngoshe, Kirawa,
Kukawa, Mairari and Mallam Fatori, located on shores of Lake Chad.
The other eight communities that will receive the returnees comprise
Wulgo, Koine, Gajibo, Warabe, Logmani, Sandiya, Dalwa and Malari.
While implementing return of IDPs, he said: “It is better to spelt out
the intension of state government so that the Return Task Force (RTF)
can effectively work with State’s Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)
and Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement
(MRRR).”
He noted that for now, the state government has targeted IDPs from
Kauwuri and Ajiri in Konduga and Mafa Local Government Areas for their
immediate return this week.
According to him, the other issue is the resettlement of displaced
persons in Maiduguri metropolis and Jere council and their environs.
He added that the state government wanted to engage and plan for the
return of IDPs and refugees to their ancestral homes.
Zulum therefore, urged the RTF members to discuss the issue of Kauwuri
and Ajiri communities, as the IDPs are on the necks of government.
While announcing return of IDPs, he said: “The Chairperson and
Commissioner of SEMA and MRRR, Hajiya Yabawa Kolo and Mustapha Gubio
and the Sustainable Development and Coordination Agency will release
the timetable for return of refugees and IDPs to remaining 17
communities.
In his response, Kishara said that the return of IDPs and refugees
into Borno state; will be done according to applicable laws, the Borno
state strategy, UN guiding principles of internal displacement and the
African Union Convention.
“As humanitarians, we are here to support the state government by
working together,” he assured,” noting that this will enable them
provide support to return displaced persons to their communities.
He said other issue to be raised, while returning displaced persons,
is how to transfer cash to returnees as quickly as possible through a
coordinated system.
On return of refugees, he said: “We’re also working with SEMA to abide
with the rules that have been set by the state government return the
refugees from Diffa province of Niger, and Cameroon.”
