World Refugee Day: NHRC seeks protection, support
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on government and key stakeholders to galvanise protection and support for refugees, asylum seekers as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country.
The commission made the call against the backdrop of the spate of insecurity occasioned by communal clashes, banditry and Boko Haram insurgency in the country.
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, disclosed this on Thursday in a statement in Abuja on the eve of the commemoration of World Refugees Day themed: “Our Home.”
Ojukwu who also called for proactive measures to safeguard the vulnerable populations, noted that many of them had fallen victims of insurgencies, natural disasters and severe economic conditions.
He that refugees and IDPs were not mere statistics but individuals with dreams and aspirations displaced by circumstances beyond their control.
He then called for a concerted effort to resettle them and provide them with the necessary resources for them to live a normal life.
“These conflicts have severely impacted the rights to healthcare, education and basic human dignity for tens of thousands,” he said.
“According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Nigeria currently hosts 71,728 refugees with 27,725 refugee returnees, reflecting the urgent need for comprehensive and sustained intervention.” he noted.
While urging the government to ensure their safe return to communities according to international conventions and human rights treaties, Ojukwu reiterated NHRC’s commitment to advocacy for the rights of refugees.
