World Refugee Day
By Ronke Kolawole
The National policy on internally displaced persons will soon be instituted by the Federal government. This will provide proper framework for the right intervention and address core issues relating to seeking refuge in Nigeria. The Federal Commissioner, United Nations High Commission for refugees in Nigeria, Hajiya Hadiza Kangiwa disclosed this at a press conference marking the 2013 edition of the World refugee day.
According to the United Nations High Commission for refugees, UNHCR, the country accomodated about 3,154 refugees in 2012 majorly from the Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Liberia while over 1000 are on the waiting list.
In Nigeria, natural disasters and human factors have turned many citizens into refugees internally and externally while the current security challenges in the North Eastern part of the Country have their consequences on refugee population in border countries especially in Niger Republic.
Although, displacement figures are alarming globally, the UNHCR is not relenting in equipping refugees with skills, education and other life saving assistance while relevant agencies especially the security forces were trained to protect the rights of people seeking asylum.
The theme for the celebration is “One family torn apart by war, is too many.”
