UNHCR warns against diverting aids to internally-displaced persons

THE United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned that assistance to Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) must not be used for political or military purposes.

It said that rather than politicising it, what is meant for the IDPs “should be given to the IDPs” and should not be used for the purpose of achieving political ambition.

This was made known by the Senior Protection Officer of the Commission, Anchinesh Mahateme, at the training organised by the commission on protection and operationalising protection through community-based approach.

The two-day training involved different organisations assigned with the responsibility of catering for IDPs in the state.

Stressing that relevant information should as well be made available to IDPs about their areas of origin, Mahateme also beckoned at humanitarian actors to endeavour to address “not only IDPs assistance need but also protection risk.”

On the equality and the need to avoid acts that would lead to discrimination against IDPs, she said that “IDPs should enjoy the same rights as other persons in their country and shall not be discriminated against.”

Another resource person from the commission, Asamau Kwambe, said all hands must be on deck to herald the much-needed smiles on the faces of IDPs in the state and the country at large.

Besides, the UNHCR Head of Field Unit in the state, Daniel Istifanis Bisu, told participants that the number of IDPs in the state is over 44,000.

He, therefore, pleaded with participants not to toy with the issue of IDPs as majority of the persons affected are children.