by Mr Hanson Tamfu, External Relations Officer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Abuja.
The UNHCR
official disclosed that the 818 refugees include 151 male adult, 146 female
adult and 521 children.
He said that
the refugees had added to the influx of Nigerians who returned to the country
in the past weeks.
He said that
the influx would compound the yawing gaps of needs already overstretched in
catering for IDPs including shelter, food, core relief items hygiene kits among
others.
Tamfu said
that the UNHCR had taken urgent steps to address the challenges as it had
informed the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to provide food for the new
arrivals.
He said that
the agency had also discussed with the military to provide firewood for cooking
and discussed with the Borno State Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation
and Resettlement (MRRR) to set up emergency reception tent.
He said that
the refugees would be kept in the tent pending completion of the reception
centre this Wednesday.
Tamfu said
that the WFP had promised to look into the possibility of providing dry food
ration immediately and the military was undergoing serious screening of the
returnees.
He said that
UNHCR and partners were monitoring other urgent needs that might arise.
He said that
a quick survey indicated that water was available in the camp, the condition of
the returnees was stabl.
Tamfu added
that some of them came with food rations and were already looking for means of
cooking, especially those fasting.
It will be
recalled that between April 9 and May 22, a total of 12,202 Nigerian refugees
returned spontaneously from the Minawowa refugees’ camp in Cameroon.
The main
areas of return are Banki, Pulka, Gwoza and Bama in Borno State.
UNHCR had
expressed worry over the influx of the refugees explaining that the return was
sudden and without adequate preparations on ground to cater for the refugees.
(Source:
NAN)
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