S/E Facing Humanitarian Crisis With 268,000 IDPs- Kalu

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Benjamin Okezie Kalu says the South East region is facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with over 268,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) spread across 158 camps and affected communities.

Mr. Kalu made the revelation in Abuja while speaking at a Roundtable with International non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in a programme titled “Through Their Eyes: A Call To Action, Addressing Humanitarian Challenges In The South East” .

The Deputy Speaker who said that Enugu, Imo, Abia, Anambra, and Ebonyi states are the most affected, with many people lacking access to clean water, adequate shelter, healthcare, and education noted that the crisis in the South East region is characterized by displacement, violence, and ecological challenges, including natural disasters like gully erosion that have destroyed homes and left many without shelter.

He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to provide immediate humanitarian relief and sustainable development solutions and called for support from international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and government agencies to address the crisis.

In their separate remarks, the head of INGOs in Nigeria, Camilla Higgins; the Director-General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Umar Ibrahim Mohammed the Director-General of the National Refugees Commission and Migrants, Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed and other stakeholders pledged their commitment to collaborate with the Office of the Deputy Speaker to address the menace and appealed for increase in their budgetary allocation in 2025 to enable them to function optimally in their constitutional mandates.

Oduyemi Odumade