IQRAA, a Foundation for Charity, Youth and Humanitarian, has appealed to the Zamfara State Government to establish more IDP Camps in the State, most especially in the Saminaka area of the State.
The letter reads;
His Excellency, IQF/OPL/001/22.
The Executive Governor,
Zamfara State.
Dr. Alh, Bello Muhammad Matawalle.
Dear Sir,
Passionate Appeal to Set Up IDP Camp(s) In the State.
The aforementioned foundation is a registered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), founded in 2017 with good antecedents. It facilitates the need for standard and sustainable education for all, irrespective of any inclination to politics, tribe or religion. The foundation has so much concern for children mostly, the female gender. Periodically we offer Humanitarian supports to victims of natural disasters and insurgency.
Furthermore, we commend your humanitarian gesture and concerns for the good citizens of Zamfara State that can be tracked through the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development under the leadership of Faika Ahmad Marshal.
Your swift actions in trying to curb banditry, kidnappings and other allied atrocities are also commendable and laudable. It will be unjustified to fail to applaud your declaration of intent and eventual ground breaking exercise for the construction of an IDP camp in the state in collaboration with the Federal Government. Such action gives us hope against the odd plights of the victims of violence in the state.
Notwithstanding, your Excellency the number of IDPs is rising to an alarming number in Gusau metropolis, putting the host community in fear, danger and undesired humanitarian burden. Thus, we have assessed those victims hanging around Saminaka area and beyond and found out that they are in need of;
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
Psychological First Aid (PFA) this will address their immediate basic needs such as;
Clean water
Food
Shelter
Cardigans, socks and blankets etc.
Medical Care; most of these children hardly eat a balance diet food and had resulted to them being malnourished and attacked by malaria and other contagious diseases.
We are formally and consciously writing this letter in light of the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala convention), the UN guiding principles of IDPs and Sphere Minimum Standards for Humanitarian Assistance which we felt and observed that they have been either avoided or violated. Regardless of the root causes, the IDPs are Nigerians, true indigenous citizens of Zamfara state and are entitled to;
All rights of internally displaced persons as provided for in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, international human right and humanitarian laws.
Ensure the minimum access to protection and assistance without any form of discrimination whatsoever.
The right to be protected against forceful return to or resettlement in any place where their lives, safety, liberty and or health would be at risk.
Internally displaced persons have a right to request and receive protection and assistance from the state and local authorities and shall not be punished or persecuted for making such a request.
Vulnerable IDPs shall have a right to receive protection and assistance required by their condition or special needs. Such vulnerable IDPs shall include children accompanied, unaccompanied and orphans, women including nursing and expected mothers and female heads of households, persons with disabilities and the elderly. These entitlements, are rightly stated in the National Policy on IDPs in Nigeria.
Your Excellency please, see the need to set up a temporary IDP CAMP for their safety and improvement of livelihood. The roaming about of IDPs in the Capital is alarming and rising concerns of the CSOs/NGOs and influential individuals.
Let us all empathize and help them build on resilience.
Yours in Nation Building
Amb. Isah Hamisu Amb. Zainab Jubril Amb. Fauzuddeen Mahmoud
Admin Officer, Dir. On Gender & Children Projects Dir. Publicity & Advocacy.
Cc;
Council of Ulama, Zamfara state.
Min. for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs.
Zamfara Emergency Management Agency. ZEMA.
Ministry for Community and Rural Development.
