Insecurity: 2.9 Million Nigerians Internally Displaced — UNHCR

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has
disclosed that no fewer than 2.9 million Nigerians have been
displaced as a result of insecurity in the North East.

It revealed that already over 300,000 Nigerian refugees had
sought asylum in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, decrying the activities
of Boko Haram had lingered for more than ten years.

UNHCR Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Chansa Kapaya, who
addressed newsmen yesterday in Abuja, at the launch of IDP Zakat
Fund, appealed to Nigerians to support the initiative in order to
provide succor to those affected.

“The crisis of internal displacement in Nigeria has persisted
for more than 10 years. Currently, 2.9 million people in Nigeria
are internally displaced.

“2.9 million is an outstanding number and is difficult for most
people to see the human face behind the number and to contextualize
the individual stories of hardship, suffering and loss.

“But let us remember that these are 2.9 million men, women, and
children who have fled their homes because I violence and conflict
and gross human rights violation.

2.9 million horrific journeys exacerbated by the fear of losing
one’s life or the life of loved ones. 2.9 million is not merely a
statistic but it is a stark number representative of more than a
decade of relentless and tragic suffering,” she said.

Kapaya added that” In Nigeria, UNHCR works to support the
Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to fulfill its
international obligations to provide international protection and
humanitarian assistance to refugees, the internally displaced and
stateless people.

Out population of concern in Nigeria includes 2.1 IDPs in NE
Nigeria, in the states most affected by the humanitarian crisis:
Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY State), 728, 688 IDPs in North West
and North Central, 1.7 million refugee returnees, and 69, 000
Cameroonian refugees hosted in 3 states in the Southern part of
Nigeria.

“It might interest you to know that there are ala over 300, 000
Nigerian refugees who have sought asylum in the neighboring
countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger also displaced by the ingoing
violence and insecurity in the North East and North West.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of Sokoto State Zakat and Waqf
Commission (SOZECOM), Lawal Maidoki, explained that the funds would
be used to cater for their education, health and feeding, adding
all those displaced will benefit regardless of religious
inclination or culture.

He added that government and international organizations would
find a lasting solution to insecurity ravaging the country.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has
disclosed that no fewer than 2.9 million Nigerians have been
displaced as a result of insecurity in the North East.

It revealed that already over 300,000 Nigerian refugees had
sought asylum in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, decrying the activities
of Boko Haram had lingered for more than ten years.

UNHCR Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Chansa Kapaya, who
addressed newsmen yesterday in Abuja, at the launch of IDP Zakat
Fund, appealed to Nigerians to support the initiative in order to
provide succor to those affected.

“The crisis of internal displacement in Nigeria has persisted
for more than 10 years. Currently, 2.9 million people in Nigeria
are internally displaced.

“2.9 million is an outstanding number and is difficult for most
people to see the human face behind the number and to contextualize
the individual stories of hardship, suffering and loss.

“But let us remember that these are 2.9 million men, women, and
children who have fled their homes because I violence and conflict
and gross human rights violation.

2.9 million horrific journeys exacerbated by the fear of losing
one’s life or the life of loved ones. 2.9 million is not merely a
statistic but it is a stark number representative of more than a
decade of relentless and tragic suffering,” she said.

Kapaya added that” In Nigeria, UNHCR works to support the
Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to fulfill its
international obligations to provide international protection and
humanitarian assistance to refugees, the internally displaced and
stateless people.

Out population of concern in Nigeria includes 2.1 IDPs in NE
Nigeria, in the states most affected by the humanitarian crisis:
Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY State), 728, 688 IDPs in North West
and North Central, 1.7 million refugee returnees, and 69, 000
Cameroonian refugees hosted in 3 states in the Southern part of
Nigeria.

“It might interest you to know that there are ala over 300, 000
Nigerian refugees who have sought asylum in the neighboring
countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger also displaced by the ingoing
violence and insecurity in the North East and North West.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of Sokoto State Zakat and Waqf
Commission (SOZECOM), Lawal Maidoki, explained that the funds would
be used to cater for their education, health and feeding, adding
all those displaced will benefit regardless of religious
inclination or culture.

He added that government and international organizations would
find a lasting solution to insecurity ravaging the country.