Malnutrition Claims Lives of Ten Babies in FCT IDPs Camp
Tragedy has struck at the Waru Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, as at least ten babies have reportedly succumbed to illnesses related to malnutrition.
Mrs. Fatima Mohammed, the Women Leader of the camp, revealed this somber news in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
Mohammed disclosed that the recorded figure spans from the establishment of the camp in 2013 to the present date. Malnutrition among infants and children has emerged as a concerning issue for numerous families residing in the camp.
“As I am talking to you now, one of the nursing mothers died recently in this camp. You see, one of our major problems in this camp is the lack of good medical facilities, portable drinking water, and toilet facilities,” she expressed.
The deteriorating condition of the camp’s toilets has led to numerous health challenges, with women contracting infections, some of which are chronic and impact their ability to bear children, Mohammed explained.
Urgently calling for assistance from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the women leader emphasized the critical need for healthcare facilities. She highlighted the temporary nature of their stay in the camp, noting that many residents had businesses at home before being displaced by insurgency.
“Before, we used to receive medical and material support from organizations like the former Director-General of Refugees Commission, Imaan Suleiman. She supported us a lot, and we are grateful. But, since they left, we have not received donations from any organization so far,” Mohammed lamented.
With a population close to three thousand eight hundred and seventy persons, the women leader expressed discontent with the limited reach of empowerment programs. She cited the scheme introduced by the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya, noting that only seventeen people benefited from the skills acquisition initiative, mainly focused on tailoring, with the provision of sewing machines.