Conditions not conducive for return of IDPs, says UNCHR

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (UNCHR) has said that conditions in the North-East are not yet conducive for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, IDPs, particularly in Borno State.

UNHCR Regional Representative for West Africa and Regional Refugee Coordinator for Nigeria and Central African situations, Liz Ahua, said persistent threats from Boko Haram, the presence of land mines and unexploded improvised devices as well as the absence of basic services pose acute humanitarian and protection risks for the affected populations.

Ahua who said this yesterday at the on-going three-day regional protection dialogue on the Lake Chad Basin in Abuja, added that a similar situation of insecurity also prevails in the border regions of Cameroun, Chad and Niger, where Boko Haram attacks on civilians also continue.

At the recent May 14 regional security summit, which held in Abuja, the governments in the region stressed the importance of supporting the victims of sexual violence or forced marriage by Boko Haram and the need to provide them with appropriate support including reintegration into their communities.

The objective of the protection dialogue according to her is: “to identify the most urgent protection risks in the Lake Chad Basin resulting from the conflict-induced crisis and to agree on comprehensive actions at local, national and regional level to enhance protection and respond to the most urgent needs of affected populations, composed of refugees, the internally displaced, host communities, women, children and men.”

In his remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Bassey Akpanyung, said the ministry was working in close collaboration with relevant government institutions to re-establish civil authority in the liberated areas to free more military personnel to engage the insurgent group.

He said “the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC already have significant presence in the affected towns, while other agencies will follow suit.”

Akpanyung who disclosed that a framework is being developed and agreed on for the safe return of the displaced persons, added that, “The Federal Government is also willing and ready to support safe, dignified and voluntary return of IDPs and refugees to their precious abodes as soon as possible.”

It is expected that discussions at the dialogue will culminate in a tripartite agreement among Nigeria, Cameroun and the UNCHR as a mechanism for advocacy on issues such as safe, voluntary and dignified return of the displaced in conformity with international standards and best practices.