IDPs: Number drops from 60,000 to 18,958

The National Emergency Management Agency says  the number of Internally Displaced Persons in Yola, Adamawa, has dropped from 60,000 to 18,958.

Mr Sa’ad Bello, the Head, NEMA Operation Office, Yola, disclosed this on Friday during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on NEMA to the IDPs camp in Damare, Yola.

A statement signed by Mr Sani Datti, Head, Media and Public Relations of NEMA, quoted Bello as saying that the drop is as a result of voluntary return of the IDPs to their homes.

While expressing satisfaction with the progress so far made in the camps, Bello said there was tremendous enrollment of school-age children in schools.

“So far, over 900 Internally Displaced Children enrolled in various camps in the state,’’ he said.

The Senate Committee Chairman on NEMA, Sen. Abdulazeez Nyako, commended the agency for its consistence in rendering humanitarian services in Nigeria especially to the less privileged.

He said the committee was satisfied and convinced with the way NEMA was managing available resources and taking proper care of the IDPs.

However, Nyako noted shortage of water supply in some camps as a serious problem and promised to invite the Ministry of Water Resources to address the challenge.

“We are going to support NEMA to lead and coordinate all activities of humanitarian organisations in the country,’’ he said.