Jutha Gupah, Damaturu
March 10, 2023.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) have registered a total of 729 separated children in the Northeast.
According to the Committee, about 4, 319 messages and phone calls were made for the physical reunifications of the separated children.
This was disclosed, yesterday (Friday), in the ICRC, 2022 Operational Facts and Figures dashboard, released to journalists in Damaturu, Yobe state.
The ICRC report said the Red Cross is reestablishing contacts to over 4, 000 separated families affected in the 13-year conflict in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
Besides, it added that about 24, 963 people were forced to leave their homes during the over a decade conflict in the region.
the Nigerian Red Cross Society?
The ICRC Head of Delegation in Nigeria, Yann Bonzon, lamented that conflict has forced people to leave their homes and continue to live in makeshift camps.
He said this led to many family members, including children separated from their parents and guardians in various communities affected by conflict.
His words: “The loved ones have gone missing, while their means of livelihoods were also disrupted.”
“About 1, 020 names of missing persons were broadcast on radio informing them that their family members were looking for them.
“There were also 672 pictures of persons looking for their missing family members in Borno, Adamawa, Gombe and Yobe States.”
He said the names of the missing persons were also published in photo booklets; to assist ICRC with the search process.
According to him, 812 phone calls between separated family members were also facilitated in reuniting 729 children with their family members.c
