IDPs fight over relief materials in Abuja Camp

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in a camp in Abuja on Tuesday disrupted the distribution of relief materials by the Red Cross Society. During the exercise, a crowd of impatient IDPs grabbed materials being distributed by aid workers which led to a free for all.

The acting Secretary General of the Red Cross, Mr Andronicus Adeyemo, said that the relief materials were targeted at addressing the rising cases of malaria in the camp.

The Sunshine uncompleted IDPs camp in Apo had come alive with the sight of vehicles loaded with cartons of mosquito nets and torch lights. The sight energised the IDPs, mostly the children, who appeared hungry before the arrival of the materials.

Narrating the incident, the Acting Secretary General of the Nigerian Red Cross, Andronicus Adeyemo, said that the Red Cross Society had organised the displaced persons in queues, ready to distribute hundreds of mosquito nets to each family to address the menace of malaria in the camp, before the fracas started.

Smooth distributions lasted for only 15 minutes before the crowd of IDPs, apparently with grown impatient with the due process, decided to handle the distribution themselves.

The decision by the IDPs turned sore, as everyone struggle for materials, a situation that led to fights.

Also available to the IDPs was a free polio treatment organised by medical doctors from AMAC, with Dr. Christine Archibong, leading the team.

The Abuja IDPs camp is not the only camp badly in need of relief materials.

Many others have appealed to the government to pay close attention to their welfare for their continued survival.

[Channels TV]