The United nations High commission for refugees has begun documentation at Dalori Camp for the internally displaced.
After being left homeless by the Boko Haram, about 100,000 Nigerians in the south-eastern part of Nigeria, Borno state, are being properly documented and are to be given ID cards.
The purpose of this is to promote security and protection of rights for those affected by Boko Haram which is responsible for the death of about 200,000 people and displaced about 1.2 million in eight years.
A Representative from the UNHCR, stated that the refugees are being issued temporary ID cards and their personal data is being taken down. Also, he stated that IDPs are open to many risks without proper identification because one could mistake them to be a part of the extremist.
With the large number of people who live in camps and those that have fled to other parts of Africa like Niger, Chad, Cameroun, there is a high level of insecurity for them a they lack legal documentation.
This exercise is ongoing in Borno as it is the state most affected by the insurgency and according to the UNHCR, the exercise will soon be extended to other parts of the North-East as it is also working with the Nigeria’s National identity Card management commission as well as village heads of communities affected by the insurgency.
However, this issue of statelessness has been in existence even before the insurgency, the civilians were at risk even then because due to the high level of illiteracy, registration and documentation was very rare.
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