There are strong indications that members of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp and Home for the Needy situated in Uhogua, a community situated in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, may face starvation as managers of the camp are faced with acute food scarcity among the over 4,000 persons being catered for in the shelter.
Popular News learnt that basic food items such rice, beans, garri , yam and other grains are running out of supply occasioned by the worsening food crisis situation in the country.
This development has informed the appeal by the operators of the home, calling on the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA), the Ministry of Humanitarian Affair, Non-Governmental Organizations(NGOs), the Nigeria Custom Services, and faith based groups to come to the rescue of the home.
The once lively camp, bustling with activities, is now a shadow of itself as the management and the founder makes frantic efforts in anticipation of where the next meal to feed the thousands of hungry IDPs will come from.
Founder, International Christian Centre, Home of the Needy, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, said the camp is in desperate need of food items, school fees for students and other consumables.
Folorunsho, in tears, said, “We have been fasting for days now due to food shortages. Last week, we just did our three days of fasting and this week I don’t just want to push the students anymore. It was quite difficult, there was no food, we all came together and turned the fasting to prayers. The fasting we did last week was Thursday, Friday and Saturday, they believe that God will change the situation.
“I must say that this is one of the most difficult periods for us in terms of meeting the food needs of the IDP’s. I could barely sleep every night hearing the cry of the children because of hunger. We need urgent help”.
”That is why I’m appealing to NEMA, SEMA, Nigeria Custom Services, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and others to come to our aid.”
One of the IDPs, Andrew Joseph, also joined the Coordinator of the camp to appeal to spirited members of the public, government and others to come to the aid of the camp.
Recall that the camp last year celebrated some students who bagged first class from various Nigeria Universities. The camp is a home to over 4,000 IDPs including children, men, women, widows and students from the different ethnic groups in the country.
