Rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ukpabi-Nimbo Community, Enugu State Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria, conflict and violence have accounted for approximately 3.2 million people who have
been internally displaced from their homes. Majority who are internally displaced residence in
other communities outside of theirs, known as host communities. Such displacement of
population generates challenges for host communities as they try to provide them with scarce
physical, social and economic resources for their survival. Theories of social disorganization and
hierarchy of needs formed its theoretical framework. This study examined the challenges
encountered by host communities in the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in
Ukpabi-Nimbo community, Uzo-Uwani local government Area of Enugu State. The study
adopted both primary and secondary sources of data collection. Findings revealed an overstretch
and dwindling scarce resources in the host community, inadequate attention of government in the
provision of necessary infrastructure and basic amenities of life in host communities, clashes of
interest between the host and the IDPs thereby creating crisis. This study suggests a need
assessment of host communities, a proactive government policy intervention to ameliorate their
plights and the engagement of social workers for the management of stakeholders’ relationship
in the host communities and to bridge relationship gaps and conduct need assessments in host
communities in order to avoid conflict with the host communities.