Group urges govt to stop malnutrition in IDP camps

A group, Children Government Nigeria (CGN), has urged the Federal Government to find urgent solution to the deteriorating cases of malnourished children at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps across the country.

The children from Abuja, who wrote a petition to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Jos yesterday, said they represented the 36 states of the country.

Submitting the petition, 13-year old acting president of the group, Miss Eucaria Nnadozie, lamented that Nigeria, as one of the richest oil-producing nations in the world and richest agrarian nation, cannot afford to have malnourished children at the IDP’s camps.

Nnadozie, who alleged that corruption has found its way into the camps, said money meant to cater for people at the camps is being diverted to individual pockets.

The children warned that they could no longer keep quiet and watch, as the situation continues to deteriorate.

Child Minister for Women Affairs of the group, Miss Irene Ikechukwu, also decried the malnutrition and lack of basic sanitary infrastructure at the various camps across Plateau State.

She said the lives of the children are being traded for profits, especially the girl-child who is subjected to all forms of abuses.

According to her, “The IDP camps have been converted into a limited liability company,’ saying ‘while people are dying of hunger, others are smiling to the banks.”