NCFRMI distributes food, drugs worth N30m to 3000 IDPs in Jigawa

In response to the needs of the internally displaced persons in the country, Margaret Essien, acting honourable federal commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally displaced Persons (NCFRMI), has distributed food, drugs worth N30 million to 3000 internally displaced persons in Gumel Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

Essien informed that the Federal Government’s support was coming on the heels of assisting the internally displaced with the needed support, which would ensure they kick-start a new life.

According to Essien, “The quick wins is for the government to identify with the displaced so that there is restoration of hope to the displaced, which gradually commences the gradually step of their return to their original habitat”

Some of the distributed items include: 100 cartons of dettol soap, I50 pieces of children’s wear, and 200 pieces of insects repellents. In drug categories, 70 cartons of Pholic acid, 100 cartons of paracetamol, 70 cartons of multi-vitamin, 28 cartons of cough syrup and 100 cartons of ampiclox. Also, 25 bags of beans, 30 bags of maize were also distributed.

On empowering the women and children she said: “There would be skill acquisition that could be given to them. The Children would also be empowered to return back to school. The mothers, most of whom had had economic venture prior to now; the government would assist them and give them a starter park to begin a new life”

So far, available statistics show 2.1 million people have been displaced in Nigeria occasioned by the activities insurgency of the insurgents while  various agencies of the Federal government such as National Emergency Management Commission intervening with other NG0s, have been collaborating and intervening through diverse ways.

On further steps, she said: “Having seen the situation on ground, we are going back to re-plan and come back and settle them finally.”

“As you know, one of the key challenges we are having is funding, and the government is already reaching out to international communities for support so that the affected persons can gradually start a new life,” she said.

Hassan Abdullahi, one of the displaced persons who spoke to BusinessDay said: “I ran down from Baga in Borno State to Gummel Local Government in Jigawa State and have been in the Camp for the past three months.

My young daughter has been sick, but with the multi-vitamins and other drugs that the government brought to us quicken her  recovery, am grateful to the government,” she added.

Meanwhile, Sani Zoro, a member of the Federal House of Representative in whose constituency the items where distributed said: “There is an estimated 27 000 IDPs in Jigwa state and we have not less than 3000 in this four Local governments, out of the 27 local government in Jigawa.

“I used this opportunity to call on all the humanitarian partners to channels all their humanitarian assistance through (NCFRMI), because they have the expertise and experience of distributing such relief material.

“This particular four local government that we have come to visit with Gummel as the headquarters of the old Emirate has 3000 1DPs,”he said.