Monday, May 11, 2015

Boko Haram: 63 children, six pregnant women rescued

Some internally displaced persons at a camp in Sokoto ... on Sunday
Of the 275 persons that were rescued and handed over to the National Emergency Management Agency by the 23 Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army about two weeks, 63 children were unaccompanied while six women have been confirmed pregnant.

It was learnt that more rescued victims from insurgents in Sambisa Forest were still being expected from the Nigerian Army, as the Federal Government in conjunction with humanitarian experts from the United Nations were working hard to help reintegrate the women and children with their respective families.


NEMA’s Senior Information Officer, Mr. Sani Datti, confirmed on Sunday that the rescued victims were being catered for in various camps by the agency and the UN.

He noted that the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Daouda Toure, and NEMA’s Director-General, Sani Sidi, assured the rescued women and children of social, psychological and health supports before they reintegrated with their families.

The duo made the pledge when they interacted with internally displaced persons at Malkohi Camp, Yola.

Sidi said the agency had engaged tailors to sew at least five sets of clothes for each of the rescued women and children, as most of them came with only the clothes they wore.

The NEMA boss said a mobile clinic had been deployed for medical screening to identify those who needed treatment, while the agency in collaboration with UN agencies had mobilised a team of experts in psycho- trauma counselling and medical doctors to provide all the necessary medical care to the rescued.

He said most of the rescued children were severely malnourished and had eye infections.

Taure told the rescued women and children that the world and their families had missed them but the UN agencies would support the Nigerian government in providing their needs to facilitate their reintegration with their communities.

He said the UN had directed all its relevant agencies to provide all the needed assistance and support to them.

According to NEMA, infant feeding, children’s clothes, diapers and sanitation items were provided to 21 nursing mothers.

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