Displaced persons in the Bokkos local government area of Plateau State on Wednesday expressed mixed feelings as the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA visited them with assorted gift items to cushion the effects of their hardship having been displaced from their homes over a month ago.
While the people especially the women welcome the provision of foodstuffs, drugs, toiletries, clothes, shoes, bags, snacks, drinks and others, they also lamented the lack of firewood to prepare food, stressing that most times, even the children end up eating once in a day because of the lack of firewood.
A woman, Grace Mafwil met at the COCIN Church, Bokkos Central camp where the items were received told this medium, “We appreciate the gifts we receive here because that is our source of survival for now but we don’t have firewood to cook the food. The money we are given to cook food in each of the camps is sometimes not enough to buy firewood. The weather is cold and we can’t take our baths with cold water. It is not every day that we take our bath because there is no firewood to cook food not to talk of boiling water. This is a few minutes to 11 am, we have not eaten breakfast because we are yet to cook.
“We will appreciate it if we are supported to go back home and continue with our lives. Our houses were burnt we picked nothing out. If we need support to rebuild our houses. These helps won’t come forever. We need to go back and work to support ourselves and the children too need to return to schools.”
However, the State Chairperson of FIDA, Obioma Achilefu who donated on behalf of her members, encouraged the people to remain focused despite the challenges they are facing.
She said, “We are here to comfort the victims of last December attacks who are in the improvised IDP camps in Bokkos. As a part of our concern for the vulnerable women and children in society, FIDA deemed it fit to come and see the people to sympathize with them and to also encourage them that there is still hope. We are here to tell them that is not over until it is over and as long as God helps them survive, God will not abandon them.
“We have also made some provision of food items, toiletries, quite a lot of items that are brought which I think will go a long way in helping them get fed in this place because we know the times we are in is not an easy one economically. So that’s why we brought all these, clothing, shoes and medications believing that it would give them a little succour.
“We were able to source these from contributions from our members, well-meaning people on the Plateau. For the drugs, we approached some pharmaceutical companies, and some pharmacies, who saw that this is a noble cause, and they contributed drugs, for us to give to them because they have some health issues. Members brought clothes, shoes, bags, and all to make our coming here successful, we thank God that we can offer some assistance to the people.”
Responding, the Vice Chairman, of the Central Committee of the IDP camps, Rev. Bitrus Mandong commended FIDA for the visit and the show of love via the gifts and appealed that, governments and well-meaning individuals should assist in improving security and rebuilding of the destroyed communities so that the people can return home because “living in the camps is not a sustainable option.”
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