Banditry: UNICEF Supports Bauchi IDPs Sheltering In Gombe With Hygiene Kits

By Najib Sani, Gombe

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Gombe State Government have stepped in to support over 7,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Bauchi State, who fled their homes due to bandits attacks and are now seeking refuge in Kashere, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.

UNICEF’s Bauchi field office chief, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, flanked by the officials of the Gombe State Government handed over a truck of hygiene kits, including buckets and kettles, to the displaced families at the camp.

Advertorisl

She said the organisation was also working to immunise children in the camp to prevent disease outbreaks during their stay in the state.

According to her, there was plan to set up a safe learning space for kids in the camp to start learning so that their displacement would not hinder them from learning.

She commended Gombe State Government for providing shelter to the displaced families and supporting them with some basic needs including water facilities.

In his remarks, the executive secretary of Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu, said the state government is providing free healthcare services to the IDPs.

“We have vaccinated 300 children for routine immunisations at the camp so far,” noting two children had died in the camp while two were born.

Shuaibu added that the state government has also paid a counterpart fund of N500 million recently to UNICEF for procurement of nutrition supplements for children.

Camp committee chairman, Umar Badeko Kashere, praised UNICEF and Gombe State government’s support but highlighted the urgent need for more latrines.

According to him, the current 20 toilets in the camp “are not enough for 7,000 people, risking disease outbreaks due to open defecation”.

He however lauded UNICEF for responding to the sanitation concern and providing measles vaccines after two cases were reported.

Our correspondent reports that the IDPs were displaced from Digare, Mansur and Gwana communities of Alkaleri local government of Bauchi State following incessant attacks by bandits.