Borno IDPs protest inadequate food supply

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bama, Borno State, yesterday complained about the quantity of food supplied them in their camp by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
The displaced persons reportedly voiced their grievances when members of the House of Representatives Committee on IDPs visited the camp.
A spokesman of the IDPs, Mallam Bukar Kolo, told the legislators that they were faced with acute food shortages at the camp.
“We were happy when the camp management abolished the centralised cooking system last week due to our complaints. But the introduction of household cooking has not solved the problem,’’ Kolo said.
He accused SEMA officials of supplying inadequate food items to households under the new system.
“I have a family of 30 dependents but they gave me a 10 kg bag of semovita, a 50 kg bag of rice and some few items. These food items are expected to last three weeks, before another supply, but we have already exhausted the supply.
“This arrangement cannot work because the food supply is grossly inadequate. How can 30 people feed on food that cannot feed more than 10 persons?’’’ Kolo queried.
Mallam Mustapha Modu, another IDP, corroborated the claim, saying: “We are still living in hunger because the food supply is too small to sustain us. We want you to please intervene and ensure that we have enough food supplied.”
But the IDPs’ Camp Manager, Mallam Babagana Grema, in his reaction said: “It is true that we gave them one bag of rice and one bag of semovita each. But we have made provision for additional supply to families who have exhausted their supply.”
Responding, committee Chairman, Alhaji Sani Zoro, promised to tackle the problems, adding: “We are here on a fact-finding mission; our aim is to ascertain and see the living condition of the IDPs. We will report back to the House and ensure that necessary action is taken towards alleviating your concerns.”
Meanwhile, wife of the president, Mrs Aisha Buhari has described the humanitarian challenges in the North-East as demanding, noting that more supports are needed for displaced Boko Haram victims. Aisha, who distributed food items to over 4,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) women and children yesterday in Maiduguri, Borno State, said there was need for more support for the IDPs in the North-East.
Represented by Borno State governor’s wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the first lady said the distribution of food items was to address severe cases of malnutrition earlier reported among the IDPs.
“It is time for everyone in the country to be involved in the fight against malnutrition to prevent any more death. Everybody should be involved to prevent the death of our people, especially women and children from malnutrition and this they must do now,” she said