Humanitarian Crisis In Adamawa: Workers Accused Of Sexual Harassment Against IDPs

Humanitarian Crisis In Adamawa: Workers Accused Of Sexual Harassment Against IDPs....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a troubling revelation, more than 40 cases of Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Exploitation have surfaced across 26 Internally Displaced Persons’ camps in Adamawa State. An official from the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, speaking to Arewa PUNCH on condition of anonymity due to restrictions, disclosed these distressing findings.

Adamawa State hosts four formal and 22 informal IDP camps, including locations such as Malkohi, the NYSC camp in Girei, Fufore, and Damare. Despite being informal, these camps receive crucial support like food supplies and medical services from the government.

Documents obtained by Arewa PUNCH revealed that as of August 2021, 297 suspects had been convicted for sexual exploitation and gender-based violence, out of 774 perpetrators facing trials in various courts. Shockingly, some of these crimes were committed within IDP camps.

The source from Arewa PUNCH pointed out that even humanitarian workers were implicated in these despicable acts, including instances of trading sex for food—a grim reality that is increasingly becoming public knowledge.

Formal IDP camps alone accommodate over 5,000 individuals, highlighting the scale of vulnerability within these settings.

Efforts to get a comment from the acting head of ASEMA, Mrs. Heidi Sunday Edgar, were unsuccessful as she cited prior engagements during attempted contacts.

Elsewhere, in Gombe State, Isa Maina, a notable IDP, lamented the challenges in reporting rape cases due to the close-knit living conditions among the displaced population.

This unfolding humanitarian crisis demands urgent attention and effective measures to safeguard the vulnerable populations residing in these camps.