JSS2: English Language 1st Term | Comprehension: Internally Displaced Person in Nigeria
Internally Displaced Person in Nigera:
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are people who have been forced to leave their homes as a result of war, persecution, or natural disaster. According to reports, there are 3.3 million IDPs in Nigeria, and 470,400 were displaced in 2013 alone. Globally, Nigeria is only ranked behind Syria with 6.5 million IDPs and Colombia with 5.7 million IDPs. The reports reveal the unprecedented rise, in IDPs in Nigeria, can be explained by an increased number of internal conflicts, and ongoing intercommunal violence.
Communal clashes have been major contributory factors, to the high number of displaced persons in Nigeria. Clashes occur between farmers and herdsmen, over rights to grazing lands in some states in the country. More than 1,000 people have been reportedly killed on this issue recently.
Intra-state and intra-regional armed conflicts have substantially contributed to the menace of internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria. Examples are the Biafran war in Nigeria (1967 – 1970) and the Nigerian-Cameroun Bukassi Penninsula conflict. In 2011, the post-election violence in Nigeria saw about 65,000 persons internally displaced, in some parts of the country.
Natural and man-made disasters have also led to the problem of IDPs in Nigeria. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reports that from July to October 2012, a total of 2.1 million residents were sacked by flood in Nigeria, while almost 500,000 were displaced by internal conflicts and natural disasters, between January 2013 and February 2014. In 2012, flooding caused by heavy rainfall across Nigeria left many of the victims homeless. Since 2016, the number of IDPs has increased due to internal conflicts.
They suffer from a number of problems. Whenever they are displaced, they carry along their culture and health challenges. They frequently are not welcomed by some of the host communities, due partly to the limitation of resources. They can also transmit diseases to the host communities. These health issues may be communicable health conditions like measles, malaria, cerebrospinal meningitis, malnutrition, and mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Furthermore, IDPs’ humanitarian welfare has been a challenging endeavour. They are usually kept in a temporary location but they need to be provided with basic necessities, such as basic shelter, food, potableWater that is suitable for drinking. More water, healthcare, security, education, clothing and information.