No fewer than 15,000 individuals displaced by recent flooding in Jigawa State are currently seeking shelter in 45 primary and secondary schools that have been converted into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, according to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Dr. Haruna Mairiga, revealed this during a telephone interview with The Punch on Tuesday.
He highlighted the significant challenge the state government faces in resettling the flood victims, stressing that they must be moved to safer, higher ground to prevent a future disaster.
“The major challenge confronting the government is how to resettle these IDPs because of their number and, moreover, they must be relocated elsewhere,” Mairiga said.
“The area they were living in is on lower ground, so they must be relocated to higher ground to avoid a recurrence in the future.”
Government and Humanitarian Response
Dr. Mairiga noted that the state government has so far spent N2 billion on food relief for the displaced individuals. He explained that food has been distributed to the IDPs in their camps four times.
“We have distributed food to the IDPs in their camps about four times. As you know, we are using schools as camps. If not for the good understanding we have with the schools, teaching and learning would have been disrupted,” he added.
Mairiga also expressed gratitude for the support received from various organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), which has supplied essential medicines to treat those affected by the flood.
Impact of the Flooding
The flood disaster, which has affected several local government areas in Jigawa, has left thousands homeless. In response, displaced persons have been resettled in schools, temporarily halting academic activities in some areas. The state is now grappling with how to provide long-term solutions for those affected while balancing the needs of the educational institutions serving as temporary shelters.
As the government and humanitarian agencies continue to address the immediate needs of the displaced, the challenge of finding permanent resettlement for the IDPs looms large.