UNHCR: 200,000 Nigerian Refugees are in Niger, Chad, Cameroun

Shettima: 90% of Bama was destroyed by Boko Haram

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Regional Representative for West Africa, Liz Ahua, has disclosed that 200,000 Nigerian refugees from northern states are currently in Republic of Niger, Chad and Cameroun.

Ahua, who stated this at a press briefing in Bauchi yesterday, said the refugees were sacked as a result of the activities of the insurgents that have ravaged the region.

She said the refugees are willing to return to Nigeria but fear of uncertainty had prevent them, adding that these refugees are traumatised due to the activities of the insurgents.

She said over five million people are traumatised.

According to her, the commission was so concerned over the traumatised state of both the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and refugees in the neighbouring countries, explaining that “We work with partners to support the refugees with education and medical facilities because they are no longer living in their country. So we have to give them adequate support.

“We have the responsibility to support them by providing physical and legal protection for them. We have been providing capacity building to assist them and we are working on providing more shelter for them. Though in Bauchi, where most of them live, we are proud of the host communities for the care given to them.

“We spoke with many of the IDPs and the women and children were crying due to hardship. They told us their needs which are education, shelter and healthcare. Some of them came from Yobe, Adamawa, Borno, among other states and they have to trek for more than two months to get to where they camped.

“The women complained of education because their children are out of schools and they want them to go back to school. They also complain of school materials, and furniture to enable their children learn in a good environment.

“They also complained of lack of means of livelihood because many of them were into trading before they were displaced, so the women need to be empowered to take care of their children,” she said.

Ahua promised that UNHCR would ensure that both IDPs and refugees would be given adequate attention especially in term of food items, clothing, shelters and empowerment.

Meanwhile, Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, yesterday expressed shock at the level of destruction in Bama, which was recently liberated by the military from the Boko Haram insurgents who had held the commercial town captive for over six months.

Shettima, who paid an assessment visit to the town, said it was shocking, the level of destruction masterminded by the terrorist group.

He lamented that about 90 per cent structures in the town had been totally destroyed by the insurgents during their occupation.

The governor said: “What we have seen today is wanton destruction of all structures. All public and private strucutures including clinics, places of worship, houses, markets have been burnt by the insurgents,’’

He said: “oing by the facts on the ground, between 80 and 90 percent of all structures in the town have either been burnt or destroyed’’.

He, however, said government was determined to ensure that all communities destroyed by the insurgents were rebuilt so that people can go back home.

He said: “We are determined to rebuild the state, no matter what, We will reach out to the federal government through the Victims Support Fund and other avenues to secure assistance toward rebuilding the state,’’

Sh e t t ima said government will also seek help from multinational donors, the United States, and other international organisation to source for funds to rebuild the state.

He commended the gallant military efforts in liberating the communities occupied by the insurgents.

He disclosed: “Part of the reasons for my visit is to thank the military including the Nigeria Police, other security agencies and even the local vigilantes for their sacrifices towards ensuring peace in the state.”

He announced that government will move all the remaining residents of Bama to Maiduguri to allow the military carry out full scale assault on the insurgents at their Sambisa hideout.

He said this effort was aimed at safe guarding their lives pending when full normalcy will be restored in the town.