Plateau: Clergy decries inadequate latrines, beddings for 3,236 IDPs in Heipang

From Ron Jacob, Jos.
Rev. Davou Gyang, RCC COCIN Church, Heipang in Barkin Ladi Local Government of Plateau has said that the 3, 236 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the church are in dilemma over inadequate latrines/toilets, bathroom and beddings.
Over 200 persons were believed to have died in an attack launched on the 11 villages in Gashish District of Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South Local Governments two Sundays ago by some unknown herdsmen, while thousands of people were displaced now taking refuge in various IDPs.
Gyang, reverend in charge of the Camp, told Everyday.ng on Saturday raised the alarm over the unhealthy condition in which the IDPs are staying.
The clegy said that the four latrines/toilets at the Church were being shared by the 3, 236 IDPs and the pupils of the Church Primary School “especially in the morning and afternoon hours that they (pupils) come for their studies since the school is still on session’’.
He said, “we are in a serious dilemma considering the few latrines, toilets and bathrooms that we have in this IDPs camp: the unfortunate thing is that the latrines are being shared with our pupils’’.
“We have been praying that God, in His infinite mercy, to save us from any epidemic giving our limited health facilities in the camp,’’ he said.
Gyang also lamented the shortage of mattresses for the IDPs, because, according to him, the government through SEMA  and NEMA provided them with only 250 mattresses.
According to him, “what can 250 mattresses do to with well over 3000 people? There is need for provision of more and other relief materials for the IDPs’’.
In a chat with some of the IDPs, one of the IDPs, One Mrs Esther, said, “some of us have resorted to going into the nearby bush or farms to defecate to avoid the clash and fight among us over the use of latrine.
`Some of us have to wake up very early, while the place is still dark to take our bath behind the church in the farms so as to avoid the crowd and struggle for the use of the two bathrooms in the church,”’ she added.
Also speakihng, one Mr Dareng lamented the harsh condition in which they (IDPs) were living, expressing his pain and sorrow for the dastardly attack on them by unknown bandits.
“No matter what the government will do to us to cushion our pains and sorrows, it can’t restore the loved ones we lost, our joy, and state of minds,” Dareng said.
Just last Saturday, SEMA and NEMA began going round sharing relief materials to the several IDPs’ camps spread across Baarkin Ladi, Jos South and Jos North Local Governments.
Mr Yakubu Datti, the State Information Commissioner, called upon NGOs, religious and corporate bodies as well as individual philanthropists to come to the aid of the IDPs because government alone can not handle their plights.