Nasarawa Crisis: Over 50 Births Recorded In IDPs Camps In Plateau

file photo: IDPs at a camp in Plateau State
file photo: IDPs at a camp in Plateau State

The past two weeks have seen over 50 babies delivered at the Plateau State camps of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Nasarawa State.

About 7,000 IDPs from Nasarawa State had escaped from their troubled home, following the recent communal crises and were now taking refuge in Plateau State.

One of the displaced persons, Jemila Lawal, who spoke to journalists during the distribution of relief materials to the IDPs at Namu, Gwayaka, Kwande, Kurgwie camps in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, said they were displaced from Assakio community in Nasarawa State.

According to her, 20 women were delivered of babies in Namu village in the past six days, with six others gave birth in Gwayaka, 10 in Kwande village, and 15 others in Kurgwie.

She therefore appealed to the Nasarawa State Government to provide adequate healthcare for the new babies.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State Government said it had spent about N20 million to purchase relief materials for the IDPs.

Executive Secretary of the state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Alhassan Barde, spoke of the state government’s determination to alleviate the sufferings of displaced persons, at the distribution of the materials yesterday in Quanpan.

“While the responsibility of the protection of the IDPs lies first and foremost on the state government, it is important for the local authorities, spirited individuals and surrounding communities to see how best they could contribute to enhancing the protection of IDPs in conflict and crisis situations.”