The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed that it is providing over 30,000 litres of water daily to internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the Yelwata attack and currently sheltered at the International Market camp in Makurdi.
Mrs Rebecca Bolatito-Gabriel, UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Specialist from the Enugu Field Office, made this known during a visit to the camp on Monday.
Bolatito-Gabriel explained that the intervention aims to ensure that each individual at the camp has access to a minimum of 15 litres of water per day. To achieve this, UNICEF procured and installed two water bladders, each supplying 10,000 litres, and also revitalised abandoned boreholes within the facility.
She noted that the water supply is essential to making the existing 36 water cistern toilets hygienic, accessible, and suitable for the displaced persons.
“We are providing over 30,000 litres of water daily to the IDPs in the camp. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), there are over 3,400 IDPs here. Our support has ensured that they can access sufficient water to meet their basic needs,” she said.
“We found that the existing sanitation facilities, such as toilets, could not be maintained or accessed without water. Also, these are not the type of toilets many of them are used to, so water must be provided to ensure they can use the facilities in a safe and hygienic manner,” she added.
She further disclosed that 50 hygiene promoters, including IDPs, had been engaged to help maintain environmental cleanliness within the camp.
Also speaking, Dr Ifeyinwa Anyanyo, UNICEF Health Specialist from the same field office, said healthcare services had been delivered to 910 individuals, with four childbirths recorded at the camp.
She said that UNICEF is currently providing an integrated package of primary healthcare services, including antenatal care, to the displaced population.
(NAN)