From Kemi Yesufu, Abuja
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Refugees & Federal Government Initiatives on North-East Region, Sani Zoro has raised the alarm over “the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the North East, especially since the latest influx of IDPs, from newly liberated areas of Sambisa forest.”
In a statement yesterday, Zoro noted that the present situation is traceable to the absence of well articulated plans to respond to the new set of challenges, arising from the freeing of hostages by the military in former Boko Haram strongholds.
The committee further observed what it described as the incompetence of government agencies responsible for the management of camps and the welfare of IDPs.
“For inexplicable reasons, too, the federal government has failed to embrace best global policy practices that would have helped significantly, in attracting the buy-in and commitment of genuine donor organisations, and members of the humanitarian cluster.
“Agencies charged with camp management have only proved their incompetence, over the years, while transparency in procurement procedures of the Presidential Initiative on North-East (PINE), and the Victims Support Fund (VSF), remain a ruse, as they are observed in the breach,” the statement said.
The committee also urged government to immediately overhaul the entire process of rebuilding the North-East and rehabilitating IDPS. This was as it called for proper investigation into how monetary and other donations are being managed. It also called for a new screening process be put in place for non governmental organisations working in the region.