The Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internationally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Sen. Basheeru Mohammed, on Tuesday, organised a New Year party for IDPs’ children as part of its activities to mark the year 2020.

Addressing the children at the Malaysian Garden camp Abuja,  Mohammed, said that the commission deemed it fit to celebrate with the IDPs’ children and encouraged them to access education.

Represented by Mrs Fatima Daura, Deputy Director, IDPs camps in the commission, Mohammed said that the New Year party had its theme as “Psycho-social therapy through Play among IDP population”.

According to him, the aim of the party is to improve the emotional well-being as well as physical and mental development of the IDPs which are useful to the durable solutions drive of the Commission.

“We are here today to participate in this Children’s celebration to mark the beginning of a new year and a new decade.

“We are all aware that over the years the country has been faced with a prolonged insurgency and armed conflict which resulted in the displacement of over 2.4million people from their habitual residence.

“It has increased their exposure to horrific violence.

“Over 30 million children are displaced globally and 1.4 million children displaced in Nigeria according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

“It is even more challenging for children to cope not only with past trauma but also with ongoing stress and fear owing to their displacement.

“So, this is part of the Commission’s efforts to ensure that psycho-social support is provided for our persons of concern with the view of balancing their mental and physical well- being.

“We strive to provide a holistic approach which encompasses psycho-social programming in all our intervention,” he said

.
He also said that upon his assumption of office in 2019, the Commission’s ‘Strategic Implementation Plan’ geared towards re-positioning, strengthening and enhancing the effective performance of the Commission has been revamped with durable solutions taking a central stage.

“As part of entrenching sustainable durable solutions for these survivors of conflict, this New Year’s day celebration for IDPs children is timely.

“Evidence has indicated that in the context of forced displacement, child-friendly spaces (CFS) can enhance psycho-social well-being and their ability to learn.”

Mohammed, therefore, appreciated the efforts of the Federal Government in ensuring that the IDPs were not left behind due to their vulnerability.

He, however, encouraged well-meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies to extend their corporate social responsibility to the cause of the vulnerable groups within the communities.

He noted that no meaningful action towards their reintegration into the society was little.

Newsmen report that, the Commission is a Federal Government Agency saddled with the principal responsibility of providing humanitarian assistance.

It also provides care and maintenance, protection and durable solutions to Refugees, Returnees, internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), stateless Persons and Migrants in Nigeria.

Also the highlights at the occasion were donations of numerous educational materials and activities such as physical exercises/aerobics, games play and dancing competition.
The activities were to make the event relaxing and memorable for the children drawn from all the IDPs camps within the FCT.

 

NAN