Anybody Can Become An IDP- JFC Tells Nigerians … Advises the public to Make IDP camps better – 

Maryam Aminu

A faith-based nongovernmental media organization devoted to enhancing the spiritual and professional development of journalists and other media professionals for the advancement of the nation, Journalist For Christ (JFC) International Outreach unveiled a publication titled “Advancing the rights and welfare of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)through media monitoring, investigative journalism and media-driven advocacy:Silent Cries” on Saturday in Abuja.

The publication is highlights of special media reports on the pains, hopes and aspirations of Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria

The Project Advisor, JFC, Sanmi Falobi said that “Silent Cries” is a story of IDPs as told by themselves, using the instrumentality of media friends.

Falobi added that the publication was to bring the unheard voices of the IDPs to the front burner, to see how to further expand their voices to be heard by those that are responsible for improving their welfares.

He urged journalists to amplify and pay more attention to the needs, challenges and solutions of the IDPs adding that the welfare of the IDPa had to be put at the centre of the issues.

Speaking further, a Development communication expert, Seun Akioye, who reviewed the publication said there is need for more journalists to amplify and pay more attention to the needs of IDPs in their reportage.

He added that areas of IDPs mental health, welfare amenities and basic facilities should be catered for.

Akioye urged journalists to report IDPs with empathy by focusing on their stories with respect to individual experiences and see the task as part of their social obligations to the society

Akioye recommended that government especially the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs,Disaster Management and Social Development to be proactive and strategic in responding to the cries of IDPs

He further tasked other agencies to not only distribute relief materials but provide healthcare and educational skills capacity support.

Government should collaborate with civil society organizations to curtail cases of abuses, sexual and gender base violence and other human rights abuses experienced by the IDPs,he added.

Akioye described the publication as a compendium of the experiences of fellow Nigerians who few years ago were living normal lives like every other Nigerian but today find themselves in unfavorable places not bargained for. Anybody can become an IDP so we need to fight now to make the situation of IDPs better, he said

In his remarks, Mr Ochiaka Ugwu, Secretary, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, stressed the need for journalists to be compassionate when reporting about the down-trodden.

Ugwu said that compassionate journalism should be the in-thing and reporting the unreported and giving voice to the voiceless in the rural areas should be of utmost