Insecurity: North-West has over 1 million Internally Displaced Persons, says UN
…Mobilises doctors, nurses, psychologists for trauma patients
By Faith Awa Maji, Katsina
The United Nations International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says a total of over one million persons have been displaced in North-West as a result of insecurity situation in the area.
The IOM Chief of Mission in Nigeria, Mr. Laurent De Boeck, made the disclosure on Monday at the official launch of Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconciliation Project for the North-West, held in Katsina.
He explained that the figure may not be unconnected with the uupsurge in activities of terrorists operating in the region.
According to the UN Chief, IOM, based on the research it conducted in October 2022, 54 and 56 per cent of the victims are women and children respectively.
According to him, “the North-West with over one million IDPs and about 29 per cent of them from Katsina State alone.
“For Katsina, the project is being implemented in four Local Government Areas of Dandume, Danmusa, Batsari and Jibia.”
De Boeck noted that IOM, Mercy Corps and the Centre for Democracy and Development with support from the European Union were collaborating with the Katsina State government to promote community reconciliation process in the state.
Also speaking at the programme, the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Security, Nasiru Muazu Danmusa, appealed for more support in the fight against insecurity which noted has bedevilled parts of the State.
The IOM Chief alongside his team were earlier at Government House where he told Governor Dikko Umaru Radda that with the support of donor agencies, the IOM would rebuild traditional structures in collaboration with the office of State Attorney General.
According to him, another component of their mission was providing direct support for mental health, and psychological assistance to those affected by trauma as a result of encounter with bandits’ attacks.
He said that specialist doctors, nurses and psychologists would go round to attend to affected persons and identify their peculiar needs.
