UNHCR to construct 500 housing units for displaced persons in North East

United Nations High Commission for Refugees( UNHCR) has embarked on the construction of two bedroom permanent shelter for displaced persons in the North East region.

The Adamawa State. Governor Sen. Mohammed Jibrilla and Mrs Angele Dikongue-Atangana, UNHCR representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS,on Monday performed the blocking laying ceremony for construction of
60 units two- bedroom permanent shelter in Maiha local government area of the state.

Mrs Angele Dikongue-Atangana, the UNHCR representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS,said the 60 units two bedroom permanent shelter for returning displaced persons was the first of 500 units of such shelters to be constructed for victims of the seven councils ravaged by the insurgency in the North East.

She added that shelter remained one of the most important need of the 3,000 displaced victims of insurgency who have returned to Maiha adding that UNHCR decided on building the houses to address that need in order to encourage other displaced persons to return to their habitual residence.

She said, “The return of displaced persons for Adamawa was found to be peculiar because many of those displaced returned enmasse to their places of habitual residence without support:

” Most of the seven local government areas affected by the insurgency have experienced substantial levels of return and yet require support in attending to basic services in which shelter is paramount. It is my believe that construction of this 60 units two bed-room permanent shelter in Maiha funded by UNHCR will be the beginning of a new dawn in Adamawa State for the returning displaced population within the conflict affected local government areas L.G.A’s.
But most importantly it would grant vulnerable families an opportunity to return and live in safe and dignified shelter”.

Speaking at the event Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow urged for proper utilization of the housing units when it is completed while thanking the UNHCR for its protection support to the vulnerable victims of insurgency.
According to the Maiha council chairman, Alh. Idi Amin the area has a total of 481 displaced persons, 302 of whom are females while 179 are males