Outcry As Diarrhea, Malaria Outbreaks Hit  Benue IDP Camp

The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Anyiin camp have called for urgent government attention over the outbreak of diarrhea and malaria in the camp.

The camp secretary Raphael Asua, who disclosed this to our correspondent during a telephone conversation, said he almost lost his son due to diarrhoea.

According to him, another problem they have aside from hunger is malaria, which is affecting both children, women and the elderly due to incessant mosquito bites.

Asua lamented that the toilets built for them are all filled to the brim, and mosquitoes are breeding and coming from there to bite people who are coming down with malaria fever, even though most people are sleeping in mosquito nets. However, most of the nets are old and thorn, and again, more than five people in a household are sleeping in one net, and the tendency of one to slip off the net can not be ruled out.

He said, “We are appealing to government at all levels, faith-based organisations, philanthropists to come to the aid of the IDPs at Anyiin camp and nib in the bud a situation that will claim so many lives, especially children and the ages, by supporting us with malaria testing kits, drugs, new mosquito nets, clean water and also build new toilets for us to encourage personal hygiene.”

While applauding the Hyacinth Alia-led administration for always acting promptly to their plights, Asua also informed that most of the women in the camp are now suffering from varying toilet infections.

He also commended security agencies for foiling the attempted attack on Anyiin camp last Thursday which he said would have been bloody.

The secretary disclosed that the herders invaded the Arufu community a few kilometres away from Anyiin, and on sighting the security, they opened fire, but the security personnel overpowered them, and they went back.