TheCable

A 70-year- old man was killed while two persons sustained injuries at an internally displaced persons camps (IDPs) in Borno state.

At a press conference in the state on Tuesday, Yabawa Kolo, chairperson of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), confirmed the incident, saying it happened during breaking of fast at the camp.

Kolo said the displaced person died while trying to access food items at El-Miskin IDP camp in Maiduguri, while two others were wounded at Madinatu IDPs camp.

She asked philanthropists and humanitarian organisation to strictly adhere to acceptable norms underpinning the protection of IDPs and also respect all guiding principles.

”Separate exit and entry points, convenient facilities, screening and issuance of coupons, engaging camp leadership to capture diversity and complying with principles of gender, ethnicity, age, religion and disability should be considered while delivering assistance,” she said.

”SEMA is appealing to all intervention agencies and NGOs who lack capacity in crowd management and control to always seek assistance of SEMA-trained and experienced volunteers to assist them while conducting distribution exercise.”

Kolo said erring individuals or organisations that may cause or create havoc to IDPs while conducting distribution would be made to face the law.

”They shall be punished through the ‘Access to Justice by the Project’ run by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Maiduguri,” she said.

”All stakeholders are therefore, advised to seek military escort from nearest divisional force that is close to distribution points.”