Hunger of many kinds at Edo IDP camp

Over 2,000 persons displaced by Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east are facing starvation at the Internally Displaced Persons camp in Edo State as the camp coordinator, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, said food had become their most critical need at the moment, even as other problems existed. He said the camp had relied on donations from […]

Over 2,000 persons displaced by Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east are facing starvation at the Internally Displaced Persons camp in Edo State as the camp coordinator, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, said food had become their most critical need at the moment, even as other problems existed.
He said the camp had relied on donations from governments, organisations and  individuals to maintain three meals daily, but that the food supply had run out.
Our reporter who visited the camp observed that apart from lack of food, the camp also needs a larger accommodation and learning materials for children.
The camp is divided into two parts, one consisting of three wooden hostels house females while the other three take care of males.
Each of the makeshift structures according to the camp supervisor, Pastor Evenly Omigie, accommodates over 100 persons.
“Ordinarily, the building is supposed not to take more than 20 people but it now accommodates over 100,” she said.
It was further observed that the three tents earlier donated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) are presently in ruins.  The camp has a multipurpose hall where youths and women undergo skills acquisition programmes like sewing and computer appreciation while children attend a school set up in the camp.
The school made of seven wooden blocks of 20 classrooms is still under construction while the eight block built by the state government is yet to be commissioned. The camp has three kitchens. Pastor Omigie said the children’s kitchens called “Indomie kitchens” were created for them to learn how to cook, beginning with Indomie noodles, hence the name.  “We used to cook over five bags of rice and about three bags of beans per meal. The wife of the Edo State governor, Lara Oshiomhole, has been very helpful. So you can see why we are out of food,” she said. She said the camp only depended on a generator for electricity as it was yet to be connected to the national electricity grid.
“Now, we only have a 15kv generator and it is not enough for the camp. We need at least a 100kv and a transformer as well as a borehole to make life  easier,” she said.
Some of the IDPs who spoke to our reporter said they were at the mercy of God for feeding and other services.
Mrs. Tani Filimon from Gorza Local Government Area of Borno State, who had been in the camp for over two years, said they were actually in dire need of food. Tani, who is in the camp with six children, said, “Boko Haram militants killed my husband when they attacked our village but I managed to escape with my children.”
She said life had been very difficult for them but that the camp management had been trying. Jumai Filibus, who has eight children, said she would like to return to normal life in her village as soon as the insurgency is over. “At the moment, it is difficult for us to eat well. We don’t really have food because the food they brought for us has been exhausted. We also need books for our children so they can continue their studies,” she said.
Andrew Ilias, an SSS 3 student, lamented that the insurgency had pushed him out of his community. He said though feeding and accommodation were difficult at the camp, he was happy to continue his education.
“I have been able to contact my parents through the help of the camp’s management. When Boko Haram militants attacked our village, we all went in different directions. I am in Benin, my father is in Taraba while my mother is in the Borno camp,” he said.
Usman Filimon, whose parents are taking refuge in Cameroon, said they had to endure the situation since the camp was the only alternative at the moment.
“We are not comfortable here but there is nothing we can do because our homes are not safe. My parents are in a camp in Cameroon while I am here in Benin. We appeal to governments and individuals to please come to our aid,” he said.
Pastor Solomon Folorunsho said though they lacked accommodation and learning materials among others, the most critical need was food.
“Yesterday, we were at zero point in terms of food before the Church of God Mission led by Rev. Lori Idahosa brought 110 cartons of Indomie noodles which we shared to the children and today she brought five bags of rice and palm oil which we are going to manage. Apart from that and a few tubers of yams we don’t really have food,” he said.
He said the camp existed on goodwill without which they resorted to borrowing from stores. On how they managed health issues, he said outside the small clinic at the camp, they made arrangements with some government and private hospitals which help  whenever an illness is reported, adding, however, that had been no outbreak of any disease.
“We train the IDPs on sewing and computer appreciation, especially women and the youth. We have pre-nursery, nursery and primary schools for the children. Right now, we have some uncompleted classrooms, the Edo State government has built eight classrooms waiting to be commissioned. In the school they need chairs and tables, writing materials, uniforms and others. We have been able to buy notebooks for the students but there are no textbooks. We really need help to make this children’s dreams a reality,” he said.
Folorunsho said with the help of different agencies, they were able to trace families of some of the orphans and reunited others with their families.
He said: “Our intention is as soon as things normalize in their areas, those who have parents will go back while those whose families were wiped out will be taken care off at the camp. My appeal to Nigerians, governments and organisations, is to please help these orphans and widows and all those that are in the camp, especially now that this is school season, they need to eat food before going to school. We are in dire need of food,” he said.