The European Union (EU) and Mercy Corps, have handed over 325
permanent shelters to Internally Displaced Person (IDP) returnee
families in Gwoza council of Borno state.
The provision of shelter, is part of Borno ‘Maida’ Early Recovery
(BMER) programme that targets victims of Boko Haram insurgency.
Mercy Corps’ communication specialists, Grace Oguntade in a statement
Tuesday in Maiduguri, disclosed that; “the construction of shelters,
is part of efforts provided social protection for conflict affected
returnee households to communities.
“With the provision of permanent shelters, the IDP returnees could
rebuild and restart their lives under EU funded BMER programme.”
She noted that the recovery programme, was implemented in the state by
Mercy Corps and International Centre for Energy, Environment and
Development (ICEED).
Before completion of shelters for returnees’ occupation, she said: “We
conducted an assessment in November 2018 and mapped out about 1,916
displaced families in urgent need of shelter in Gwoza.
“The assessment also indicated that, 325 most-in-need families; were
selected for immediate assistance,” lamenting that most of their
houses were torched during the decade long insurgency.
She added that about 75% of retuning households lost their means of
livelihoods to insurgency attacks.
According to her, this led to most of returnees to live in makeshift
shelters in IDP camps and host communities.
“After 11 months’ work of assessing community needs, prototyping a
suitable shelter and construction work for IDP returnees,” she said,
the vulnerable returnee households, IDPs and host community members,
each got two-bedroom shelter with a veranda.
According to her, the Maida early recovery programme will improve
local economy, including employment of labourers, vendors and supply
of building materials.
“The 325 beneficiaries redeemed distributed vouchers to receive
materials, which was then given to the community workers to build
their shelters of choice and supervision,” she said.
She continued. “Local artisans were actively involved in the
construction process, giving community members an opportunity to earn
income by actively participating in the rebuilding process.
“The support of the Borno State Government through the Ministry of
Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (MRRR); was
instrumental in seeing that the community shelter design needs were
met.
“Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) supported the issuance of land
certificates to participants, while ICEED), provided solar home
systems and electrical wiring/installations for the shelters.
“Families who had lost their homes to insurgency attacks, living in
makeshift shelters and squatting with relatives can now live an
assured life in their own homes.
According to her, the living conditions in permanent shelters, are
free from hot and harsh weather conditions, forceful evictions and
overburden of relatives.
