Senate To Investigate Humanitarian Aid Crisis In IDPs’ Camps – Saraki

Senate president, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki yesterday declared that the Senate will investigate the severe hunger crisis in the IDPs camps in the North-east.

 this was disclosed yesterday through his  special adviser  on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuf Olaniyonu.

Last week Thursday, there was a protest by hundreds of women from camps in Borno State
Who barricaded the Maiduguri-Kano/Jos Road.

Reacting to the protest,Saraki described The development as desperate, stressing better
coordination among government and international aid agencies. He also called for the need for a more effective and efficient humanitaal aid agencies. He also called for the need for a more effective and efficient humanitarian response to address the dire situation.

“It is important that we all focus on eliminating the coordination, access and food supply issues hindering us from successfully feeding the millions of IDPs. This is particularly important for the many children who are dying daily from starvation. It should break every
Nigerian’s heart to know that our own women and children are enduring such horrendous hardships,” he said

He further called on the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other law enforcement agencies to quickly move to investigate the diversion of food aid
deliveries, stressing that government officials and contractors should be held to account for how truckloads of foods and other relief materials intended for the IDP camps  went missing.

“Anyone that is found to be diverting the food aid deliveries should be investigated and brought to book if investigations prove their participation in these vicious schemes. Profiting from a complex humanitarian crisis is unacceptable. The people of the North-east have suffered enough indignities in the past four years from the marauding Boko Haram terrorists. Stealing food meant for starving children is beyond the pale and only adds insult to injury”, Saraki stated.

Saraki had recently called for an international summit on the North-east, similar to the one held in London for Syria which raised about $10 million. He also plans to offer a motion on the situation in the North-east when the Senate reconvenes from recess next month.The motion specifically calls for the establishment of a Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on the North-east.

Additionally, the motion will call for the conduct of a public hearing for the purpose of the Senate to use its oversight powers to review Nigeria’s humanitarian policies, better
understand the current humanitarian coordination infrastructure and hear testimony from witnesses representing the government, humanitarian experts and the IDPs themselves.

“The situation in the North-east has been under-reported and underresourced for far too many years. In terms of scale and complexity, the situation in the North-east is more dire than South Sudan. Yet, apparently the crisis appears not to be sexy or star-studded enough
to attract greater international attention and support”, he stated.