The plight of women in IDP camps

There have been several reports about the plight of women in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, with many describing it as more critical than the ordeal of the men in most of such places in the North East.  This situation is a threat to the survival of the displaced womenfolk within the Nigerian territory […]

There have been several reports about the plight of women in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, with many describing it as more critical than the ordeal of the men in most of such places in the North East.
 This situation is a threat to the survival of the displaced womenfolk within the Nigerian territory and beyond since the insurgency began in 2009.
    The reports show that women in the IDP camps are experiencing untold hardships. 
Some of their challenges include struggling for both their personal and their children’s survival, quest for effective health care, as well as other necessities.
 These scenarios have forced the United Nations agencies, other non-governmental organizations and the Nigerian government to send some kind of palliatives to help them.
 NEMA, WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA have contributed immensely to improving the lives of those in the camps.
 Precisely, the recent report by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) showed that there were a lot of cases of rape, theft, poor standard of living, kidnapping of young women which NEMA observed were more on the women who were accommodated in the various displaced person camps in the sub-region.
 According to the reports, more than 50 percent of the displaced persons were women from different villages affected by the insurgency which has deprived several people of their lives and property.
 Women suffering under this traumatic situation were observed to be more pathetic than men who many believe are stronger.
Muhammad Jibrin Godowoli is a 300 level student of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri.