Allegations of IDPs in Borno state being fed with spoilt beans

BBOG member and spokesperson of Chibok,
Manasseh Allen, who also made allegations that
some IDPs at the Teachers village camp in Borno
state were being fed with rotten beans, just gave
an update on the story. He was at the camp
alongside the Chairman of the State Emergency
Management Authority SEMA and they carried out
some investigations. Read an update written by
him after the cut
This morning I was at the camp as promised yesterday night, even though the
Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Chairman Engr Satomi
Sale couldn't make it to the camp due to his attention needed at the scene of bomb
blast this morning in Maiduguri, but his
team were on ground headed by the Camp
manager, a SEMA staff and his colleagues.

Findings:
1. We all were on the same page and agreement
that there was sharing of beans.
2. Good portion of the beans was badly affected
by fungus, matted as result of moisture, maggots
and weevils.
3. There was delay in supply of the food to the
camp for about 10 days according to SEMA,
because they do monthly rationing, while the
IDPs insisted on the earlier number.
4. The above point three is still matter of
argument by the IDPs because they said, how can
few measure of food last them a whole month,
which all sides agreed that it cannot be enough
but that's what they are provided with to share.
5. SEMA don't buy food, they share what is given
to them by NEMA: SO NEMA supplied the spoilt/
bad beans to SEMA to distribute which they did.
6. They noticed the bad aspect of the beans and
asked the IDPs to exercise patient let them return
the beans, and exchange it later, but because of
absence of food for some days, the IDPs decided
that the beans be shared, for them to select
edible portion out.
7. There are so many complaints and agitation in
the camp, which the officials reported formally
and are waiting for some to be properly
addressed. To reduce tension and build trust
between officials and the IDPs.
8. On meeting with SEMA chairman, he affirmed
that he did not authorise sharing/ distribution of
food day before yesterday because the quantities
won't go through all the IDPs but was working
hard to add more food supply to go round for
distribution today.
Development: They now have received more
supplies in their camp stores various food items,
from PCNI, NEMA, and Workd food program (WFP)
- pictures attached.

Points of agreements:
1. The challenges of feeding in the camps if real
and need us all.
2. SEMA don't have food to share but they supply
condumments by state government. They only
share what is given to them by FG or other donor
partners and intervention agencies.
3. There is need for us all to sustain advocacy
for support and coordination on the Northeast
humanitarian crises
4. The Chariman commend the efforts of those
who called on him to act to avert sicknesses as
result of eating the bad food stuff. He called all as
"citizens living our duty calls of supporting other
citizens with voices for action"
5. We agreed to maintain recommended laws and
regulations and statutory bodies in reporting or
searching for information.
6. The SEMA staff in the camp have been doing
just what was directed as per ration available and
can't do more than what is given to them. And
also agreed that the IDPs need increased ration
and frequency of distribution.
7. The chairman call on all of us to stand in
support of the upcoming Oslo conference of
donors to drive home more support for the
Nation. Where I explain our early call and concept
note on the Multi donor trust fund. And meeting
of concerned citizens will be called to have our
submission through factual information that
would bring solutions as we plan relocation and
reintegration of the displaced persons.
8. NEMA should identify the source/supplier of
such food items and ensure refund or ban of the
contractor: that is accountability to public money
and to avoid disease outbreak and or organs
failure which is common now in Maiduguri.
Thank you.