Special Report:ICRC Holds Round Table Meeting on Internal Displacement in Adamawa State

By Catherine Philip Jelani

       

The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) has organized a Round Table Meeting and Presentation of ICRC Report on Internal Displacement in North East Nigeria on March 6, 2017 at Madugu Hotel here in Yola.

However, the representative of His Excellency Senator Mohammad Umaru Jibirilla who is  the Deputy Governor Engr. Martins Babale has tasked the International Committee of Red Cross to assist the State Government to reintegrating the displaced persons living in the various camps in the society.

Engr. Babale said reintegrating and cancelling the displaced persons in various communities is necessary to attract investors for the overall development of the state. He commended the organisers of the programme and wish them a fruitful deliberation.

Speaking earlier, the Head of sub delegation of the International Committee of Red Cross Geneva Maria Carmen said the aim of the Convention is to protect lives of victims of violence, insurgency in the areas of water sanitation and Hygiene.  She stressed that they will recommend to the Federal and State Governments to improve in their humanitarian assistance to the displaced persons in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. Carmen hoped that after their findings and delebration, it will be implemented.

The Legal Adviser ICRC Abuja, Isabel Robinson in a presentation Titled ‘African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa’ (Kampala Convention of 22nd October 2009) read out 23 Articles within which Article 2 consists of the objectives of the convention. These objectives includes;- to promote and strengthen regional and national measures to prevent or mitigate, prohibit and eliminate root causes on internal displacement as well as provide for durable solutions; establishing a legal framework for preventing internal displacement, and protecting and assisting internally displaced persons in Africa; establishing a legal framework for solidarity, cooperation, promotion of  durable solutions and mutual support between the states parties in order to combat displacement and address its consequences; provide for the obligations and responsibilities of states parties with respect to the prevention of internally displaced peoples; provide for the respective obligations, responsibilities and roles of armed groups, non-state actors, including civil society organizations, with respect to the prevention of, and assistance to IDPs.

However, the aim of the meeting in the state is to operationalize the Kampala Convention in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe State.

The participants include; Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Hon Silas Sanga, Hon Commissioners of Health, Women Affairs, and Water Resources etc. were well represented. Others are Security Agencies.