The United Nations is not satisfied with the volume of humanitarian assistance given to Internally Displaced Persons at the Bama camp, in Borno State, Northeast Nigeria.
UN Regional Humanitarian coordinator for the Sahel, Toby Lanzer made this known when he led a team of UN delegation and officials of the Borno State government to celebrate the 2016 world humanitarian day.
Bama gained global attention when reports broke that people living in the IDP camps were dying in their numbers as a result of malnutrition.
He said: “I am happy with what the United Nations and her partners have done to help the people of Bama. But I think we still have quite a road to travel.”
“I am still not satisfied entirely and I will be calling for more assistance whether in demand for education, whether is to make sure that all of your sisters and wives can give birth in a clean and safe environment; to make sure that people have roof over their heads on food in their stomachs or have access to their affairs so that they can help themselves”.
“This is the aspiration of the United Nations and her partners… may they be able to share in this endeavour and to support you”, he said
Commander of the 241 Battalion, Adamu Laka, said the IDPs have been provided with water and hygiene facilities as well as UN built schools for children.
He said he is worried that the population of the IDPs was growing but he fears that moving them may not be backed with resources for installation of water and hygiene facilities.
Lanza was conducted round the expansive camp to supervise the ongoing construction of tent homes being built by the UNHCR. 500 tent pavilions are being put in place for 500 families.
During the visit, thousands of children were seen learning in schools built by UNICEF.
Speaking on the essence of the World Humanitarian Day, Lanza said: “It is on this day in 2003 that the UN office in Baghdad, Iraq was attacked by a suicide bomber.
“We lost 20 of our colleagues in one strike. And I know that you here across the northeast of Nigeria particularly in areas such as Bama have identified with incidents of that nature because of the horrors Boko Haram inflicted on the communities in Borno State.
“So my hierarchy and I decided that for me this year, there will be no better place to celebrate the world humanitarian day than Bama. So I am here with you and I am happy in sharing this moment with you.
Relief materials were distributed to the women and children in the camp as part of the N2 billion humanitarian aid donated by the Dangote foundation.
Officials also seized the occasion to administer polio Vaccines to kids under the age of five.