The hope of the over 3000 internally displaced persons living at the IDPs Camp in Uhogua, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, is in jeopardy as a result of the spiraling cost of living.
This was made public in Benin, the Edo State capital, by Pastor Solomon Folorunsho Abure, the coordinator of the camp while addressing a world Press conference.
According to Pastor, Abure, the harsh economic crisis and the astronomical cost of living are having a serious knock-on effect on the operations of the camp, adding that the tempo of humanitarian services provided by the operators of the camp is threatened.
“I wish to say that the cost of running the Foundation and daily upkeep of the inmates in the camp is continually on the increase and above the sponsorship of the Foundation. This is as a result of the present global economic trend which also has a negative impact on us.”
Providing further insight into the worsening plight of the IDPs, during a world press conference held at the headquarters of the camp in Uhogua, Ovia North East, Pastor Abure said the prevailing harsh economic realities in the country are having a terrible knock-on effect on the operations of the camp, stressing that the welfare of the inmates is the worst hit
The Uhogua IDP Camp is run by the Home for the Needy Foundation, a non-political, non-religious, and non-profit making organization engaged in the provision of shelter, education, health, and other welfare services.
The more than 3,000 inmates of the camp are victims of the farmer-herders clash, banditry, and insurgency rampant in the northern part of the country who were forced to flee their homes for safety. They practically depend 100 percent on the Foundation for their day-to-day survival and maintenance.
Praising the Foundation for giving hope to the inmates of the camp, Pastor Abure said: “The camp is presently having well over 3,000 inmates all pursuing their life styles in a manner that is within ambit of the extant laws of the country.
Theses inmates he said depend on Home for the Needy Foundation for their daily feeding, shelter, education, primary health care and other welfare.
“Amongst these inmates are current graduates of first class and second class upper divisions. Further, over 200 students are reading various courses such as Law, Medicine & Surgery, Nursing & Midwifery, Engineering, Accounting, Microbiology in various universities within and outside Edo State.
“A lot others are presently preparing to go for Law school, National Youth Service among other programmes. Also, more than 150 are about to enter the university.
“The Foundation also has over 2,900 students and pupils in our primary and secondary schools located within the camp. Apart from this, the widows and those who are not too educationally inclined are not also left out. We provide them with skill training such as tailoring, cosmetology and fishery.”
He identified some of the critical areas of support to include student sponsorships, feeding, logistics, and the provision of health and recreational facilities
The coordinator called on well-meaning individuals, international donor organizations, embassies and governments at all levels to come to our aid in our humanitarian services.
“We are in need of scholarships for our students in various tertiary institutions across the country. Also, we appeal for assistance in the provision of foodstuffs of all kinds, infrastructure, social amenities, health and sport facilities in the camp premises. Funds are also needed to meet the daily cost of running the camp.”
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