The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on Friday said it has commenced the building of 90 quarantine shelters in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.

The shelters, according to the IOM, is aimed at protecting millions of Nigerians who have been displaced and now live in IDPs in the states.

A statement issued by Franz Celestin, IOM Nigeria Chief of Mission, said the quarantine centres became more important especially as Borno recorded its first confirmed case of the virus.

According to the IOM, an outbreak in the camps would have far-reaching devastating consequences, hence the need to construct 90 quarantine centres in the region.

“Conflict-affected communities in north-east Nigeria are increasingly vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic as cases begin to be reported in Borno State.

“An outbreak would have devastating consequences for millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout the region, a majority of whom live in overcrowded and underserviced camps.

“The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is supporting health actors to construct 90 quarantine shelters across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States to decrease the risk of COVID-19 spreading in densely populated camps and host communities.

“Given the rapidly evolving situation in Nigeria and across the world, we must ensure that the health of displaced and host communities is a central part of our response,” Celestin said.

He maintained that the North-East remained highly prone to cholera outbreaks, and other diseases such as malaria, measles, Lassa fever, meningitis and hepatitis E, adding that lack of access to potable water and sanitation infrastructure increase the health risks.

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Citing a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), IOM said that around 35 per cent of medical facilities have been destroyed or partially damaged due to the conflict.

“In coordination with health partners and emergency response agencies, IOM is constructing quarantine shelters to serve internally displaced and host communities in the towns of Gwoza, Pulka, Bama, Dikwa and Monguno.

“These shelters will cater to people with travel and contact history who might have been exposed to the virus.

“The quarantine shelters will consist of individual units with a latrine, shower, handwashing station and living quarters.

“Special provisions will be made for elderly groups and breastfeeding women. Facilities also have a separate entrance and registration areas as well as restricted areas for health personnel,” the IOM said.

The organisation said that following the upsurge of violence in the North East 2019 which forced about 180,000 people to flee, one in two IDPs camp is overcrowded heightening the risk of an outbreak.

It said that camp decongestion had been a challenge and had now become a priority in the face of the pandemic, calling on all stakeholders to urgently contribute to efforts being made to decongest camps.

The IOM added that it was also rehabilitating buildings to accommodate IDPs living in reception centres in Ngala town and relocate residents from overcrowded camps to new shelters in Monguno.

“Since the start of the pandemic, IOM has been raising awareness among displaced communities on measures for preventing the spread of COVID-19 such as handwashing and coughing best practices.

“In more than 80 IOM-managed sites, hygiene promoters, including camp residents, have been disseminating information in line with physical distancing.

“They conduct door-to-door household visits, airmobile speaker and radio announcements and host small group discussions with 15 people maximum sitting one metre apart from each other.

“IOM teams are also repairing WASH facilities and installing handwashing stations while providing basic hygiene items to 48,000 individuals, including soap, and cleaning and disinfection supplies for latrines, homes and health facilities.

“The nine-month project for quarantine shelters in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states is funded by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF),” IOM said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAN