“I saw hell in Borno,” Lai Mohammed cries for help

HELL: This picture of IDP children in Bama says it all. Photo: Ekekeee.com

After witnessing the devastation, hunger and suffering in terror-torn Borno State, Nigeria’s information and culture minister Lai Mohammed says the government needs help to cater for its internally displaced citizens (IDPs).

”Many of the IDPs, especially the young children, are in dire need of medical attention, shelter and clothing,” Mohammed said after visiting an IDP camp in Bama, Borno State, on Saturday.

He said at length:

“Most are at the mercy of the elements. We must be our brother’s keeper by assisting these unfortunate victims of a senseless war.

Some are fed rice and...whatever that thing in her right hand is. — Some are fed rice and…whatever that thing in her right hand is.

”With over 2 million people displaced, mostly in the Northeast, the scale of the crisis is enormous and far beyond what the government alone can handle.

”This is why I am appealing to Nigerians to assist in whatever form. We are aware that some individuals and groups have already taken it upon themselves to provide succour to the IDPs by digging boreholes, providing clothing, bedding, medicines, foodstuffs and other things needed to alleviate their suffering.

Nigerians ask if this picture of a woman and her starving baby is from Somalia, and not from terror-torn Borno State. — Nigerians ask if this picture of Yakana and her starving baby is from Somalia, and not from terror-torn Borno State. It’s from Bama in Borno. It was shot by Gbemiga Olamikan when information and culture minister Lai Mohammed visited the camp.

”But what I saw at the IDP camp in Bama brought to the fore the enormity of the problems faced by our less fortunate compatriots, especially in the area of shelter and medical facilities, hence this appeal to Nigerians, individually and collectively, as well as to local and international NGOs.

Lai Mohammed tries the pushups with Nigerian soldiers during the Borno visit.

”Many of the IDPs, especially the young children, are in dire need of medical attention, shelter and clothing. Most are at the mercy of the elements. We must be our brother’s keeper by assisting these unfortunate victims of a senseless war.

”The Federal Government has in place a Victims Support Fund for those affected by the war; the Borno State Government has established a Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement to spearhead massive reconstruction works so the IDPs can gradually return to their homes, while the military has taken on the humanitarian burden alongside its already enormous challenge of winning the war and the peace.

There are camps were officials practically shovel meals down IDPs' throats. — There are camps were officials practically shovel meals down IDPs’ throats.

”Also, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is collaborating with the states in the Northeast, the UN, the Red Cross and faith-based organisations ‎to provide temporary shelters and care for the IDPs. Yet the situation in the camps remains very difficult.

“We need to act now,” he said..