The Red Cross Society of Nigeria said on Thursday in northern Nigeria's Borno state that close to 3,500 internally displaced persons were being sheltered at the Maimalari Barracks following Wednesday's clash.

Maikano Aliyu, an official of the society, said no fewer than 200 persons were injured at the recent sectarian crisis in the city, adding that the injured were those who received bullet wounds and knife cuts.

"Our immediate problem is how to get cooked food and water for those of them who have not eaten for days," the News Agency of Nigeria quoted him as saying.

"We are, however, happy that the government has headed our advice of evacuating corpses from the streets to avoid an outbreak of epidemics," he said. "We have close to 150 victims receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, while 30 others are being treated at the Maimalari Barrack Clinic in Maiduguri."

"The emergency unit of the teaching hospital has been filled to capacity, while three other wards are also full of victims," said Aliyu.

He said the nurses and doctors at the hospital were over-stretched, noting that there is a possibility of discharging some of the victims with minor injuries.

At least 600 persons were feared dead in the crisis precipitated on Monday by a religious sect.

(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2009)