Groups partner Borno in 2, 500 homes for IDPs

TWO donor agencies – The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are partnering with Borno State government to provide 2, 500 family shelter units to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently taking refuge at Maiduguri public schools.

The shelter units, would be provided with necessary amenities that are needed to make life meaningful for the over 20, 000 IDPs that will be relocated from the various public schools camps in Maiduguri.

This was disclosed by the UNHCR field/protection officer, Mohammed Tejan-Cole, while flagging off the construction of family shelter units at Bakasi camp last week.

According to Tejan-Cole, the shelter units, when completed will accommodate 20, 000 displaced persons, who are to be relocated by the Inuwa Kubo’s committee from the various camps of Maiduguri metropolis to Bakasi camp.

“In the first phase, 1, 250 shelter units are to be built by local engineers on ground, while the remaining 1, 250 are to be completed during the second phase of the relocations and re-settlements of these displaced persons currently living in some of the secondary and primary schools in Maiduguri.

“The committee has been assured that all the displaced persons taking refuge in public schools, are to be relocated and resettled in these family shelters to enable government re-open schools this month.” Tejan-Cole said.

UNICEF’s Dr Franck Ndaie, also said that the extended new Bakasi camp will have water and health care facilities, so that the IDPs do not contact any waterborne diseases.
“With the relocations of displaced persons in primary and secondary schools camps in Maiduguri, UNICEF is to build 150 toilets, sinking of boreholes and provides health care centres, including the security of IDPs, he said.

He added that each block of the units will also have 28 classrooms, so that children of IDPs return to school this month.

Responding, the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Musa Inuwa Kubo said that it wasn’t an easy task in relocating displaced persons from public schools to the camps.

He said the government has been very careful and considerate in the relocations of IDPs from public schools to family shelter camps at Bakasi main camp on Biu road.

Expressing government’s gratitude to UNICEF, UNHCR and other partners, including international donor agencies, Kubo urged corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to emulate UNHCR and UNICEF in rendering humanitarian services in “kinds or cash,” before the IDPs return to their respective communities in the state.

“Building of 2, 500 family shelter units for the displaced persons, was the combined efforts of the committee, partners and other donor agencies in the country which Borno State government remains grateful”, he said.