Boko Haram Displaced people need food

The NYSC camp in Damare Village near Yola in the north eastern Nigerian state of Adamawa, is now brimming with thousands of people uprooted from their homes and towns by Boko Haram insurgents.

Mr Ibrahim Hamidu, the camp commander said over 8000 people have been registered in the camp, more than the camp supplies could cope with.

The internally displaced persons came from Gwoza, Uba and now they are rushing in from Mubi axis, the new conquest of the Boko Haram fighters. Most of the arrivals had earlier sought refuge in Mubi before the insurgents struck last week.

“We have so far registered 8,146 people in this camp alone and many are still waiting to be registered,’’ Hamidu said.

The camp commander expressed concern that the camp was running out of food supply due to influx of people, adding that “I have complained to NEMA about it and I hope the agency will come to our rescue.’’

He commended the Red Cross, the Rescue International Committee, OXFAM, CISCOPE, American University of Nigeria (AUN) and some interfaith organisations for their support to the camp.

To lessen the human burden on the camp, The Borno state government has commenced the evacuation of more than 2,000 people from the site.

On reports of missing children, Hamidu said the camp had received 20 complaints from parents, while seven children were brought to the camp looking for their parents.

Meanwhile, Yola remains calm, with business activities going on smoothly but IDPs continue to troop in from Mubi and other neigbouring local governments.

NAN reports that the motor parks were filled with passengers who came from Mubi axis, as well as Yola, comprising mostly non indigenes trying to leave the area for fear of possible attacks on Yola.

Presently, there was heavy vehicular and human traffic in Yola, while food and packaged water popularly known as `pure water’ vendors make brisk business as IDPs rush for food and ice water to refresh themselves.