Counselling for Rehabilitation of Internal Displaced Individual: Post Crisis Interaction and Recovery

This research focuses on counselling for Rehabilitation of internal displaced individuals, Post crisis interaction and recovery (IDPs) in Nigeria. The thriving concept of this study is the counselling that bring about wholesome rehabilitation with positive self-concept among internal displaced individuals in IDPs. The paper identifies the grave challenges faced by the displaced persons, points out the importance of counselling as part of measures to assist IDPs and the role of key stakeholders such as civil society organisations (CSO) and Educational Intuitions; governmental and non-governmental organizations. Thus, the challenges facing IDPs needs a collaborative effort in ameliorating their plight. Therefore , this paper discusses the Concept of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Challenges facing the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, The Role of Stakeholders in Tackling the Challenges of IDPs in Nigeria and Implication of the challenges for Counselling.

These rights include the right to life, freedom of movement, association, dignity of human person, personal liberty, right to private and family life, etc. IDPs usually suffer the worst violation of their fundamental human right (Alobo and Obaji, 2016).
Security threat is one of the challenges inhibiting the rehabilitation of IDPs in Nigeria, according to Olawale (2016) in September 2015, the deadly terrorist group, Boko Haram, in a suicide mission, attacked members of IDPs Camps in Madagali and Yola, killing 12 persons. In one of the attacks, bombs were reported to have been detonated inside a tent at the IDP camp. These among others are security threats faced by members of IDP camps in Nigeria. Yet to recover from psychological trauma from the loss of families, friends and properties, displaced persons are faced with security challenges coupled with a responsibility to protect themselves in their various camps. The inadequacy of security at the IDP camps opens them to attacks from terrorists and armed robbers. Similarly, Kayode (2015) opined that most camps are unguarded. The camp in Dalori is close to Konduga, a dangerous territory close to Sambisa Forest. Alobo and Obaji (2016) stated that shelter for IDPs in Nigeria is insufficient and most times do not stand the test of time and weather. Many existing shelters have been damaged or destroyed. Report shows that IDPs live in churches, mosques, town halls, abandoned and uncompleted buildings and where available, other forms of make shift camps which are grossly inadequate and unsuitable for accommodating the surge in displaced populations. These shelters are not as a result of government effort but as a result of the individual's effort to survive. The shelters are often overcrowded and unsuitable in terms of water and sanitation facilities, cooking and privacy, especially for women. There is often no proper waste management and electricity. This explains the regularity of hygiene based epidemics in camps. Furthermore, Olawale (2016) opined that in February 2016, IDPs in Gwoza were evacuated, and many of the IDPs protested since they have no home to lay their heads. Similarly, Kayode (2015) opined that the camps are overcrowded, run down and are struggling to accommodate the increasing number of displaced people. The living conditions are atrocious, unhealthy, and dangerous. Some IDPs are moving back to their villages out of frustration. And the villages are actually the most dangerous of places to be in at the moment.
The challenge of malnutrition in IDP camps cannot be over emphasized, according to Olawale (2016) in February 2016, news reported that 450 internally displaced persons died of malnutrition. Kayode (2015) opined that malnutrition in both adults and children is occurring at alarming rates in the camps. The worst affected are children. Arriving with other health conditions, mental and physical, children are exhibiting worrying signs malnutrition. These signs and symptoms were recorded in an April 2015 UNICEF report, "Missing Childhoods". The report states the children in the camps showed back then an 18 level threshold of malnutrition, above the globally recognized emergency threshold of 15. The situation is dire. Further health problems exacerbated by the ill-equipped and unhygienic camps are malaria, typhoid, cholera and high blood pressure. Polio and measles are still endemic and a major public health concern for children. More ailments are undiagnosed as there are no health checks carried out in some camps. Alobo and Obaji (2016) things are made worse by the fact that access to health care in Nigeria generally and the North East in particular is severely constrained for both the IDPs and host communities as a result of the destruction of health care facilities and health care workers. Outbreak of disease has increased in areas affected by dislocation. There is also the case of lack of access to vaccinations. The number of cholera cases among IDPs is seriously on the increase. More ailments are undiagnosed as there is no health checks carried out in these camps.
Corruption is one of the major challenges to the rehabilitation of IDPs in Nigeria; according to Kayode (2015) funds meant for caring for IDPs are redirected, embezzled and used for personal gratification. With women coming in pregnant after enduring months of rape from the terrorist groups, a huge number of malnourished children and traumatized adults. Men lucky to have survived have nothing. One is aware that this has triggered responses from the federal and state governments, and international organizations that are rendering one form of humanitarian support/assistance or the other. Officials were recruited to cater to the problems of the displaced. However, these funds made available and the humanitarian services are embezzled by the same people saddled with the responsibility to ensure the care of IDPs. On the other side of the problem, according to Alobo and Obaji (2016) presently, Nigeria has no legislation that deals explicitly with IDPs and there is no specific institution equipped to handle matters relating to IDPs. This has made caring for IDPs very porous, inconsistent and left to chance.

Challenges facing the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria
The challenges of internally displaced persons either overtly or covertly has a tremendous negative effect on Nigerians and inimical to development. The following are some of the challenges faced by IDPs in Nigeria (Azam, 2009) a. Insecurity: Women and girls are being raped on daily basis as a result of insecurity in the camps. Youths indulge in hard drugs, smoking and other criminal activities.
b. Trauma and Bitterness: The IDPs are traumatized and frustrated because of the situation they find themselves. Most of these IDPs live in bitterness due to painful separation from their spouses, families and loved ones.
Journal of Education and Practice www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online) Vol.11, No.15, 2020 79 c. Hunger and Starvation: It is said that a hungry man is an angry man and because of the level of hunger and starvation faced by the IDPs you see them protesting and demonstrating with their children at the camps. d. Acute Malnutrition: When one is not feeding well, it has an effect on one's health such as changing the colour of one's hair, eyes and teeth which may result to death. It is discovered that people give them only one type of food item i.e. carbohydrate which affects them not to have a balanced diet. e. Sexually Transmitted Diseases: This is also another challenge that the IDPs are facing, they have unprotected sex which result to all kinds of STDs like HIV/Aids, gonorrhoea, syphilis etc. They also suffer from hypertension, diabetes and other diseases due to lack of medical health facilities. h. Shelter/Accommodation: The most common shelter used by IDPs in Nigeria are schools, tents, bunkhouses, churches, mosques, town halls, abandoned and uncompleted buildings. How can human beings live in these places comfortably?
i. Waste Management and Electricity: There is often no proper waste management and electricity for the IDPs. This explains the regularity of hygiene based epidemic in camps and total darkness in camps.
j. Lack of Good Water: Because of the overcrowded nature of camps, it becomes difficult for the IDPs to access good water for cooking and sanitation facilities.

Implications of the challenges for Counselling
Addressing the challenges of IDPs is primary the responsibility of government, however, it has implication for counselling. Counselling generally is a helping process to address individuals, groups and societal problemsemotionally, mentally, psychologically, socially and economically. In fact, apart from food, shelter, clothing and physical wellbeing, a very important need of IDPs is counselling service. The sudden experiences of homelessness, loss of loved ones, properties, living in insecure states etc creates series of psychological problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, depression, hallucinations, eating disorders among others and attendant effects that if counselling is not provided some of them may become psychotic or attempt suicide. Therefore, the challenges of IDPs pose a lot of implications for counselling (Bookings Institutions, 2005): a. Considering the challenges confronting displaced persons and vulnerability of women and children, there is a need for counselling to accelerate effort in collaborating with other stakeholders in recovering and rehabilitating these displaced persons at the shortest possible time.
b. By way of socio-economic integration, the present situation of IDPs especially women and children need assessment to determine their need. The IDPs need to be equipped and prepared by means of vocational counselling for skill acquisition and training. This is to prepare them to survive physically, mentally, socially and economically while in camp and when they leave the camps (Kasali, 2016). c. It behoves on counselling to educate IDPs in camps on their sexual behaviours including the dangers of unprotected sex to avoid sexually transmitted diseases. d. Through the use of appropriate therapies in counselling those that are traumatized will regain themselves and will be healed emotionally to move on with their lives. e. In the area of counselling for tolerance in diversity the IDPs will be helped to respect one another, in all their diversity of belief, culture and language. Differences within and between societies should be neither feared nor repressed, but cherished as a precious asset of humanity. A culture of peace and dialogue among all people should be actively promoted.
12. To provide training programmes for government officials including camp administrators, military and police exposing them to the rights and needs of the displaced and their own official duties to protect and assist them. 13. Participation of IDPs in Decision Making: Engaging displaced persons in consultation and building upon their skills. The participation of women can reduce their vulnerability to sexual harassment and violence. 14. Government owe it as a duty to establish conditions to allow IDPs to return voluntarily, in safety and dignity, to their places of habitual residence. 15. Allocation of adequate resources to the extent they can, to address situations of internal displacement. 16. Cooperation with international, regional and local organizations in providing assistance to IDPs.

The Role of Non-Governmental International Organisations (NGOs):
The international actors here are the international free donors and humanitarian agencies that help in preventing displacement and providing protection and assistance to those displaced. Their roles in helping IDPs are thus: