…pledges support to UN Humanitarian resettlement team
SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
Borno State Governor Babagama Umara Zulum on Monday directed the state task force on Return of Refugees and IDPs to resettle all IDPs from Kawuri and Ajiri villages this week without fail.
The governor also instructed the committee to liaise with the appropriate authorities to ensure quick return of IDPs from Damasak, Kawuri New Matte, Baga, Ngoshe, Kirawa, Kukawa, Marari, Malam Fatori, Wulgo, Koani, Gajibo in Dikwa LGA, Warabe in Gwoza, Logonani in Ngala LGA, Sandiya, Dalwa, Makari in Konduga LGA and other areas that the State Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabiliation and Resettlement (RRR) will provide.
Zulum gave the directive when the Deputy Coordinator UN Humanitarian Affairs, who is also the Head UNHCR Sub Office Maiduguri, Mr Alexander Kishara, led UN humanitarian team and some members of the state task force on Return of Refugees and IDPs on a courtesy call at the Government House Maiduguri.
He added that in that past 6 months, the state government has acknowledged the commissioner’s support so far and thanked them for the enormous support it is rendering towards bringing succour to the IDPs.
“Today’s meeting is neccessiated by the fact that there is increasing demand and need for the IDOs yo return home and continue with their normal life. I thank the committee for the enormous support towards bringing succour to the IDPs.
“I want to reduce the pathic and provide an enabling environment for the IDPs to engage in livelihoods means to Improve their living conditions.
“Borno state government wants to engage the Return of IDPs Task Force to plan the return of the IDPs to their ancestral homes of the following towns and villages, Damasak, Kawuri, New Marte, Bata, Ngoshe, Kirawa, Kukawa, Marari, Malam Fatori, Wulgo, Koani, Gajibo un Dikwa LGA, Warabe in Gwoza, Logonani in Ngala LGA, Sandiya, Malaria, Dalwa in Konduga LGA”, Zulum said.
He also urged the task force to put more efforts to ensuring quick return of the IDPs, pointing out that, more details of what and how the IDPs to be r seetlled should be provided by the State Ministry of RRR.
According to him, the issue of resettling IDPs living in Maiduguri and Jere LGAs as well as their environs was critical and better to set up and plan for full work, especially, Kawuri and Ajiri for immediate return while subsequent locations and return of IDPs will be communicated property.
“Immediate relocation of Kawuri and Ajiri should be immediately relocated . SEMA and RRR to provide tantative dates for the return of other IDPs.
“A large population that are in Monguno, Ngala, Bama, Damboa and Gajiram are a great concern. I urge you to make more effort to return the IDPs to live a better life”, Zulum said.
While assuring that his government will support the UN Humanitarian terms and conditions for the return of the IDPs in a voluntarily and dignified manner, he pledged to comply with the Kampala Convention .
The governor also solicited support and cooperation of the humanitarian team to ensure their smooth return while in the issue of cash transfer, he charged th UN humanitarian committee to liaise with Borno SEMA and State Microfinance ensure effective cash transfer to the localities and disbursement to the returnee IDPs.
He directed that security agents should be involved in the process, hence existing temporary shelters are available and new shelters have been constructed while modest efforts are being made in Damasak for 1000 Shelters by Ministry of RRR.
On issue of Baga, Banki and others, he directed the task force to forward their recommendation to the State Deputy Governors Task Force Committee on Resettlement of IDPs to handle while assuring his government willingness to support the humanitarian team to resettle the refugees and IDPs .
He however urged the task force to return Abadam IDPs from Niger Republic, stressing that the Resettlement Committee has been resuscitated to handle the return properly as the resettlement structures including schools, clinics and secuirty.
The Chairman State Task Force on Return of IDPs and Refugees, Engineer Mustapha Gubio said already the ongoing 1000 shelters construction work in Damasak was at 95% and in 15 days time, the whole work will be completed and ready for the IDPs and refugees from Niger Republic while other temporary shelters in other locations were also rehabilitated.
Earlier, the UNHCR Head Sub Office Maiduguri who is also the Deputy UN Humanitarian Coordinator and Deputy Chairman Borno State Task Force on Return of Refugees and IDPs, Alexander Kishara thanked the governor for his support to the Return of Refugees and IDPs Committee in the state and leadership support to the humanitarian team.
Kishara noted that a lot of work has been done so far and since the last visit of the UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator, Mr Edward kallon, the state task force Committe was involved which is headed by the State Commissioner Ministry of RRR, Engineer Mustapha Gubio while the commissiiner was working closely with the State Resettlement Committee of the government to return and reaettle the refugees and IDPs.
The UN Humanitarian team was also supporting the state task force and working together to ascertain the needs of the Returnees and how to provide humanitarian support but now wants to know how and the system the cash transfer for the Returnee IDPs can be disbursed to support the IDPs as even UN OCHA officiaks are on board.