The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is conducting a needs assessment tour in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Borno State.

The assessment is coming on the heels of recent victories recorded by the Nigerian Army and outcry by the displaced persons insisting on returning to their original localities.

The Director General of NEMA, Mohammed Sidi, made the disclosure on Thursday during a two-day working visit to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

He said that Borno State accounted for 90% of the total number of displaced persons in northeast Nigeria.

Mr Sidi explained that the number of displaced persons in Maiduguri has been on the rise with an average of 20 new births recorded in a camp accommodating 12,000 people.

He also stressed that the recent victories recorded by the Nigerian Army have changed the face of humanitarian efforts which resulted to rehabilitation and resettlement of the IDPs.

Sharing their experience on camp, one of the IDPs, Maryam Mohammed, who is a widow said, “The problem is measles, seven out of my nine kids are down with measles right now.

“The truth is sometimes they attend to us and give us drugs when we visit the camp hospital, but other times they are not available.”

Another displaced person, Hamsatu Umar, said, “I need clothes and a sleeping mat with some money. I am old and I feel very sick that is why I need them to attend to me quickly so I can go back to my tent.”

The insurgency victim added that the harsh weather has been responsible for the illnesses in the camp, stressing that she went for some relief materials the previous day but could not get anything.

In furtherance to this, NEMA has called for deployment of medical personnel to IDPs camps within Maiduguri, the host communities and satellite camps in liberated communities with emphasis on children, maternal care and vulnerable persons.

The new satellite camps are located in Dikwa, Mafa, Damboa, Baga, Bama, Gwoza, Askira Uba, Damboa, Beneishek, Gamboru, Mongunu and Konduga. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Director General of NEMA, Mohammed Sidi.

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