FG promises improved welfare for people in Bama

chika ebuzor

July 2, 2016 10:36 AM

The Commissioner for Health in Borno, Dr Haruna Mshelia, said 1,800 of the most vulnerable persons in the camp had been evacuated to Maiduguri for medical attention.

Children displaced as a result of Boko Haram attack in the northeast region of Nigeria, attend a class at Maikohi secondary school camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Yola, Adamawa State January 13, 2015.

The Federal Government on Friday, assured that it will strive hard to improve the living conditions of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bama, Borno State.

Hajiya Maryam Uwais, Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment gave the assurance after an assessment visit to the camp in Bama, headquarters of Bama Local Government Area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that about 25, 000 IDPs who were rescued from suspected Boko Haram enclaves are staying in the camp.

"It is an overwhelming situation for any government to handle; the State Government has done its best.

"We came to see things for ourselves. We will go back and make reports and soon there will be some relief, more relief coming this way'', she said.

Uwais, who lead a high powered delegation to the area, expressed sadness over the condition of the IDPs.

"There are so many dimensions that needed to be addressed. We will go and make a report, submit it and engage the government.

"Insha Allah, we will see some outcome that will be more satisfactory'', she said.

Uwais commended the military for its gallantry in rescuing the IDPs from the terrorists’ enclaves.

The delegation included officials of the National Emergency Management Agency.

Others are the State Emergency Management Agency, representatives of the United Nations and officials of the Borno State Government.

The Commissioner for Health in Borno, Dr Haruna Mshelia, said 1,800 of the most vulnerable persons in the camp had been evacuated to Maiduguri for medical attention.

"We have evacuated 1,800 of the most vulnerable persons in the camp to Maiduguri for medical attention; most of them have been placed on specialised feeding.

"The evacuation is still on going'', Mshelia added.

He said a permanent health team had been working in the camp since May and that the existing team still required a lot of support.

Mshelia said the report of acute malnutrition in the camp and deaths were exaggerated as the state government with support from the federal government and other development partners had been doing their best to assist the IDPs.

chika ebuzor