OPTIMUM SITE SELECTION FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS CAMPS IN ABUJA ENVIRONS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Since 2010, rapid increase in disasters ranging from insurgency to flooding has resulted in increased incidences of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria. The Cadre Harmonise (CH) records show that there currently are over 2million, 122,000 and 123,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states respectively. Similarly, there are over 41,000, 32,000, 29,000 and 20,000 IDPs in Gombe, Taraba, Kaduna and FCT respectively. This condition demands a scientific approach to IDP site selection for proper emergency management. Therefore, this study aimed at identifying an optimum IDP campsite that is environmentally friendly, technologically cost-effective and socially acceptable, by applying GIS and AHP in FCT. The criteria for site selection used are slope, elevation, land cover, proximity to waterbody, town, schools, hospitals, tourism and the main roads. Multi-criteria evaluation methods are used for IDP site selection. The final weighted model was grouped as unsuitable, less suitable, suitable, and most suitable site. The results of the analysis show that 2.73% of the study area was most suitable for IDP campsite, 59.23% suitable, 36.13% less suitable and 1.91% of the total area is unsuitable. Evaluation of candidate sites by size shows 11 most suitable candidate IDP sites with acreage of more than 0.9 km2 according to UNHCR standard per 20,000 population. Camp one (1.69 sq. km), two (6.13 sq. km), three (1.20 sq. km), four (1.15 sq. km), five (2.59 sq. km), six (1 sq. km), seven (4.04 sq. km), eight (1.45 sq. km), nine (0.95 sq. km), ten (2.29 sq. km) and eleven (1.15 sq. km) are equally suitable sites that could serve for longer years. Campsite 11 located in Sauka [8.934328 N, 7.217324 E] is selected as the optimum site for IDP camp in the Abuja Municipal Area Council.