After a four-day visit to Nigeria, the United Nations expert on internally displaced persons (IDPs) has said that there is an urgent need for the West African country to take action to protect the hundreds of thousands of displaced people in the Northeast.
“The situation must no longer be downplayed and it is not too late to save many lives,” said Chaloka Beyani, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of IDPs. “The government must act urgently to ensure that food, shelter, medical care, water, sanitation and other essential services reach IDPs without delay.”
Beyani appeared to be especially disturbed by the lack of international attention on the severity of the situation in Northeast Nigeria, and he urged donors to fulfill their promises and commit to long-term support of the IDPs. “Due to a gross underestimation of the crisis, the existing supplies will only cover needs for a very short period of time and will be soon outstripped by demands,” Beyani said.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) believes at least 2.2 million people are trapped in areas that are under Boko Haram’s control. This is in addition to more than 2.6 million people currently displaced in the Lake Chad region due to Boko Haram’s menace.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that the situation resulting from the Boko Haram violence could lead to crisis of the highest order. OHCHR reported that victims suffer from advanced malnutrition and deep trauma. Meanwhile, access to humanitarians is limited due to security concerns.
According to Beyani, so many IDPs live outside camps, with little or no assistance. Many of them are forced to endure different kinds of abuse.