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ICRC brings hope to displaced families in Adamawa

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ICRC brings hope to displaced families in Adamawa

By Franca Ofili, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Adamawa remains one of the areas most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency and related insecurity in northeastern Nigeria.

According to International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the state currently hosts about 213,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) across camps, host communities and informal settlements.

Recent assessments also show at least 25 official displacement camps, accommodating more than 3,200 households and over 19,000 individuals, underscoring the scale of humanitarian needs.

Many families continue to grapple with limited access to food, shelter, healthcare and education, while existing camp facilities are overstretched due to the protracted crisis.

Data further indicate that most IDPs in Adamawa have been displaced for four years or more, revealing the long-term impact of conflict on communities.

Although some families have expressed willingness to return home, insecurity and damaged infrastructure remain major obstacles to safe and sustainable return.

It is against this backdrop that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has intensified its humanitarian interventions in Adamawa, supporting vulnerable families with food, healthcare, water and livelihood assistance.

In Mubi, one of the communities worst hit by insurgency, ICRC teams have been on the ground distributing essential relief items to families in need.

For many residents, the organisation’s support has been a lifeline, helping them to survive and begin rebuilding their lives.

A key focus of the ICRC’s intervention has been healthcare.

Its medical teams have been providing treatment to those injured in the conflict while also supporting hospitals and health centres in the area.

These services have been instrumental in saving lives and reducing suffering.

Beyond medical care, the ICRC has also prioritised family reunification, psychosocial support and vocational training, helping victims regain hope and independence.

This approach has earned the trust of communities and enabled the organisation to reach even the most vulnerable households.

However, the disappearance of children due to armed conflict continues to haunt families in Adamawa, leaving many in anguish and searching desperately for answers.

To shed light on the situation, the ICRC organised a field trip to connect journalists with affected families and identify vulnerable households for media engagement and support.

Mr Lemdi Okoli, Communication Field Officer, ICRC, Mubi, said the community had been severely affected by the ongoing insurgency in northeastern Nigeria.

“Many people are still dealing with the trauma of separation from their loved ones,” Okoli said.

The Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports that several families in Mubi shared heartbreaking stories of how their relatives went missing during insurgent attacks.

One of the victims, Mr Mohammed Suleiman, 62, said six of his children and his wife were abducted by Boko Haram during an attack on their community.

“We were inside the house when we heard gunshots and saw helicopters flying overhead. Before we could escape, they came and took away members of my family.

“I felt like dying, but it wasn’t my time. I even lost one of my eyes during the incident,” Suleiman said.

He expressed hope that his missing children would return someday, adding that the ICRC had helped him to continue living through vocational training and psychosocial support.

Similarly, Mrs Ruth Adamu, 60, said her husband was killed by insurgents and her 12-year-old son abducted while they were returning to Yola.

“Every day, I dream about my son. I believe I will see him again,” she said.

Adamu explained that the ICRC’s support had helped her overcome years of emotional isolation.

“Before now, I found it difficult to talk or mingle with people. But through the ICRC’s help, we now have a support group where we share our stories and assist each other,” she added.

She also appealed to the government to provide more assistance to families still grappling with the long-term effects of insurgency.

Another resident, Mr Hamma Adamu, 40, said two of his children went missing during an attack, while his wife, who was abducted, later returned but died shortly after.

“Life has not been easy, but with the help of the Red Cross, I was able to restart my business and regain hope,” he said.

He added that he now encouraged others going through similar situations on how to rebuild their lives.

Meanwhile, in Madagali, another community badly affected by insurgency in Northern Adamawa, the ICRC has stepped up efforts to improve healthcare and nutrition.

Ms Francesca Piccin, Head of the ICRC Sub-delegation in Mubi, said Madagali had faced immense challenges since non-state armed groups took control in 2014, leaving infrastructure in ruins.

“We reopened access to Madagali in April 2024 after being unable to operate here since 2018 due to insecurity,” Piccin said.

She explained that the ICRC had been working closely with local leaders to provide civilians, particularly women and children, with healthcare, clean water and nutrition services.

As part of this effort, the ICRC has renovated the central primary healthcare centre, installed a water tower and tanks, and commenced construction of a new modern facility with solar power and boreholes.

“The current health centre is old and severely damaged. We are not just renovating but also building a new facility to expand capacity. The construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year,” Piccin said.

In addition, the organisation introduced a nutritional programme known as ‘Tom Brown’, which teaches nursing mothers how to prepare food supplements using local ingredients such as soybeans, millet, maize, groundnuts and moringa.

“This initiative helps prevent malnutrition in children because prevention is always better than cure,” she added.

VMT NEWS reports that Madagali has become a safe haven for displaced families seeking refuge from insecurity in surrounding areas.

According to Piccin, the new health facility and water infrastructure will help reduce pressure on existing services.

“The upcoming health centre will be fully solar-powered to ensure sustainable access to electricity, which has been a major challenge in the area,” she said.

The Chairman of the Madagali Ward Development Committee, Mr Musa Adhas, commended the ICRC for its contributions.

“The Red Cross has done a lot for our community, especially in health. They even increased the stipend for our volunteers, which has motivated them greatly,” he said.

He added that the current healthcare facility was too small for the growing population and expressed optimism that the new centre would ease access to medical care.

“We thank the Red Cross for bringing life back to our community. Women now learn how to keep their children healthy through nutrition, we have women’s hygiene clubs, and farmers receive support with materials for easier farming,” Adhas said.

He also called on the government to complement the efforts of humanitarian organisations, noting that conflict had severely affected local families and businesses. (NANFeatures)

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