We Need $20million To Save Refugees - Borno Govt

The Borno State Government, has requested the sum of $20million to help resettle refugees displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency from their homes.

Alhaji Kashim Shettima, the stat’s governor said this when he addressed the International Committee of the Red Cross, led by its President, Mr. Peter Maurer in Maiduguri.

Nigerian refugees who live with host communities in Bosso, Niger.

Shettima represented by his deputy, Alhaji Zannah Mustapha, said that his administration has been responsible for feeding the IDPs through the State Emergency Management Agency.

He also said that even though the military has freed most of the communities formerly held by insurgents, the IDP’s still find it difficult to to go back to their homes and restart their normal lives.

Security reports revealed that most of the roads and streets, leading to the affected communities and their farmlands, were not safe as Improvised Explosive Devices and landmines were planted by the fleeing terrorists.

He said, “We, the government and good people of Borno State, want to use this opportunity to thank you (Red Cross), NEMA and other donor agencies for supporting us in this our trying moment. Twenty-two out of the 27 local government areas were destroyed, over million IDPs are living in Maiduguri, the state capital alone.

“Just yesterday, we received another batches of 4,500 IDPs from Geidam, who were sent away by the government of Niger Republic and more are still on their way to Maiduguri.

“Borno State needs over 20 million dollars to resettle its people that were displaced as most houses, business centres and places of worship were all destroyed by the insurgents.

“Though, the military has liberated 97 per cent of the communities taken over by insurgents in Borno, it will take time for the government to fumigate and diffuse the landmines before they are relocated to their various communities.”

The ICRC President, Maurer, said that they came to Borno to see the conditions the IDP’s are facing and personally hear from them.

He said that the commission might be forced to increase the efforts of his organisation in the area.