There were 63 unaccompanied children and six expectant mothers among the people rescued from the Sambisa Forest in Borno State, who are in camp in Malkohi, Yola, Adamawa State, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), stated yesterday.
NEMA’s Director-General Muhammad Sani Sidi, stated most of the children are severely malnourished and have eye infections.
During a visit to the camp with the United Nation Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure, the Director-General assured that the rescued women and children would receive social, psychological and health support before they are reintegrated with their families.
As stated by Sidi, the agency had engaged tailors to sew at least five sets of clothes for each of the rescued women and children because most of them had only the clothes they wore.
He stated a mobile clinic had been deployed for medical screening to identify those who need treatment, while the agency, in collaboration with UN agencies, had mobilised a team of experts in psycho trauma counseling and medical doctors to provide medical care to the rescued.
Taure told the rescued women and children that the world and their families had missed them, adding that the UN agencies would support the Nigerian government in providing their needs to facilitate their reintegration with their communities.
He stated the UN had directed its relevant agencies to provide the needed assistance and support to them.
21 nursing mothers provided Infant feeding, children’s clothes, diapers and sanitation items.