The Impact Of Climate Change On The Livelihood of Rural Women

By Esther Enna

Climate change has continued to exert adverse effect on the living condition of women and children in rural communities with little or no efforts towards mitigating it.

In this report,Correspondent Esther Enna examines how some women particularly widows displaced by flood and Internally Displaced Persons are faring while taking refuge in Internally Displaced person’s IDP camp in Nasarawa State.

Climate change affects human existence in a number of ways including displacement,death, diseases, disability, education,loss of farm produce among other sources of livelihood.

Speaking to Radio Nigeria Precious FM,an Internally Displaced person who is taking refuge at the Pilot Primary School Giza,Mrs Veronica Godwin
revealed that her family had the misfortune of flood sweeping through their community and farm lands, destroying homes,crops with some of them dead.

She explained that their condition became worse when they were attacked and displaced by herdsmen, rendering them homeless for over two years.

Another Internally Displaced Person IDP ,Mrs Dorcas Simon narrated her ordeal to Radio Nigeria saying the women beg or engage in menial jobs to feed their children while in the camp.

She appealed to Government at all levels and spirited individuals to come to their aid to reduce their sufferings.

Similarly,Mrs Juliana Vincent a widow stated that her children were in school when flood washed away their home and cannot afford to pay medical bills and school fees for herself and children who have been out of school following their displacement two years ago

She appealed to authorities concerned to assist in the payment of medical bills and ensure that their children are enrolled in schools.

The Camp Coordinator of Giza ,Mister Clement Madi lamented their prolonged stay in the Giza leased IDP’s Camp with no brighter future in sight for their children, appealing to government to take far reaching measures towards returning them to their ancestoral homes.

Reacting to the development,The Director Planning, Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency,Mister Ibrahim Mohammed said no internally Displaced Persons camp’s in Nasarawa State .