The UN International Organisation for Migration (UN-IOM) says it is supporting some communities in warravaged North East Nigeria with water and other basic infrastructure to help in resettling displaced residents.
A statement mad3 available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja by by Dave Bercasio, IOM Nigeria Head of Sub-office, said access to water would help displaced indigenes and residents of communities that had been under the death-grip of insurgency.
“Ongoing hostilities in north-east Nigeria has caused the displacement of 1.8 million women, men and children, hampering their access to vital resources including water.
“Access to water paves the way for a brighter future displaced indigenes and residents of these communities.
“In addition to the displaced population, 1.56 million individuals have returned to their communities since August 2015, due to the expanded presence of security forces.
“However, the infrastructure in these areas is still severely damaged or destroyed and essential services have yet to be fully restored,” Bercasio said.
He recounted the difficult experience people in some of the communities go through to access water.
“People in Gwoza town, Borno for example, spend several hours a day under the scorching sun searching for water, often in unsafe, hand-dug wells.
“The lack of infrastructure leaves no other option as the limited available resources are overstretched by the needs of displaced and returnee populations,” he said.
He said that his organisation had intervened to provide some succour for the residents.
“Last week, IOM completed the rehabilitation of two boreholes in Gwoza and Konduga as part of a project funded by the Republic of Korea.
“The initiative aims to revitalize these communities by ensuring that people affected by conflict are returning to safe and dignified living conditions,” he said.
The IOM official said that about 7.1 million people in the North East were in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
He added thatnthe Korean Ambassador had donated 7.5 million dollars to support humanitarian efforts in Borno in 2018.
“According to the Humanitarian Response Strategy for Nigeria 2019-2021, an estimated 7.1 million people affected by the conflict are in acute need of protection and life-saving assistance in the region.
“On the occasion of the reopening of these water facilities, Lee In-tae, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nigeria, stated that in 2018, Korea donated USD 7.5 million to support women and girls in Borno.
“The Korean Government assured that it will continue to strengthen efforts by providing support to vulnerable people, especially women and girls, and also promoting education and health of Nigerian youths,” he added.
He said that the rehabilitation project had improved access to water for 13,500 individuals voluntarily returning to their communities of origin.
“Access to clean water in these areas of return has been achieved through the drilling, installation, maintenance and rehabilitation of boreholes, all of which are powered by solar energy.
“Our aim is to improve access to community infrastructure and basic services and to ensure that these rehabilitation activities are sustainable.
“That is why we are engaging the beneficiaries by forming community-based water, sanitation and hygiene committees,” he added.
He assured that the committees, comprising local elders, women, men and youth, would be tasked to conduct regular water quality monitoring activities, provide maintenance of the boreholes and conduct sensitisation activities.
“That will help raise awareness about the rehabilitated facilities and how to use them.
“IOM has completed the drilling of an additional borehole in Damboa, as well the rehabilitation of a community market in Konduga and two primary schools in Mandarari and Pulka benefiting approximately 6,000 individuals.
“The project approach is guided by the IOM Progressive Resolution of Displacement Situation (PRDS) framework.
“The project commenced on November 1, 2018, and it has a duration of seven months with the objective to promote pre-conditions for safe, dignified and voluntary return in identified areas of return,” he said.
(NAN)
