IDPs face serious food shortage

Thousands of people who fled their homes following recent intercommunal clashes in central and northern Nigeria are facing food shortages, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported on Thursday.

Despite efforts by the government there is still a “serious shortage” of food for the displaced people,” ICRC said. A senior official at the Benue State Ministry of Information said last week that two camps on the outskirts of the capital, Makurdi, were also overcrowded. Daudu and Akpiam camps are holding some 20,000 people each, according to emergency relief officials.

Fighting broke out last month between members of the Tiv and Hausa communities in the central state of Nasarawa over the killing of a Hausa traditional ruler on 12 June. The Tivs, who are a minority in Nasarawa, fled in large numbers to the state capital, Lafia, and up to 40,000 ran to neighbouring Benue State. Another conflict developed around the town of Tafawa Balewa in northern Bauchi State almost concurrently with Nasarawa. The town was the scene of violent clashes between Muslims and non-Muslims over an attempt by the state government to impose Islamic law.

It is estimated that up to 65,000 people were displaced during the clashes, according to ICRC.

ICRC and the Nigerian Red Cross are currently organising food distributions for some 15,000 IDPs in Bauchi, 2,000 in Lafia and 1,000 in various parts of Lere local government area in the northern state of Kaduna, ICRC reported. The two organisations have distributed relief supplies such as blankets, buckets, soap and mats to a total of 22,500 IDPs living in improvised camps since the beginning of July. The Nigerian Red Cross is also providing basic health care for IDPs.