981,416 IDPs currently in northern Nigeria, says NEMA

There are currently 981, 416 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has disclosed.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Mohammed Sani Sidi, director-general of the agency who was represented by Charles Odegbade, director of search and rescue, also disclosed that about 107, 997 displaced Nigerians were living in camps while about 804, 732 more were living in host communities.

However, he said that 66, 087 of Nigerians displaced by natural disaster also adds to the total figure of displaced persons in the country.

He added that the IDPs were in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba.

Sidi said about 15, 001 Nigerians were living as refugees in Cameroon with more scattered in Niger and Chad.

He noted that the IDP figures were based on quantitative and qualitative data collection.

Regarding what the agency is doing for IDPs, Sidi said NEMA, with the support from local and international partners, provides both food and non-food items to the IDPs.

“NEMA has strategically stockpiled emergency food and non-food items, ready for deployment in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states,” he said.

“NEMA has established water tanks and wells to provide clean drinking water for IDPs living in camps as well as host communities.

“Together with UN agencies, NEMA is currently providing medical equipment to health facilities treating victims of the insurgency attacks in all the three states of emergency. NEMA has deployed ambulance at strategic locations to support and evacuate victims to hospitals and to provide first aid where necessary.”