NEMA Distributes Relief Materials To IDPs In Taraba
BY AMEH IDUJAGI, JALINGO – The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday, distributed relief materials to 30,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Taraba state.
The Director General of the Agency, AVM Muhammed Muhammad (rtd.) announced this at the official Flag- off of the distribution of the items to the beneficiaries in the 16 Local Government Areas which took place in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.
Muhammad, who was represented by Mr. Maidalla Iliya, NEMA Head of Operations for Adamawa and Taraba States, said that the items comprised of both food and non-food materials, adding that the relief materials were further harmonised into 5,000 households.
Muhammad explained that the gesture was in line with the agenda of the Minister of Humanitarian, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sa’adiya Farouk in bringing succor to the internally displaced persons.
He however, said that the items which includes rice (12.5kg), beans (25kg), vegetable oil, beverages, mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets among others, are to be distributed to all the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.
Muhammad also said that the approval was granted based on the assessment carried out earlier by a disaster assessment team in the agency which visited all the crisis affected areas of the state.
He advised the beneficiaries not to feel that they were compensated by the government, adding that the items were provided just to relieve and sustain them for a moment.
Muhammad assured that the materials would get to the genuine people they were meant for, adding that the agency developed a mechanism for ensuring efficient delivery of items to the targeted people.
The NEMA boss further said; “Our staff have been deployed to all the IDPs camps in the state to ensure efficient delivery of relief items to the targeted people”.
Earlier, the Taraba State Commissioner for Special Duties and Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Taninga Binga, commended the Federal government for the assistance even as he expressed satisfaction with the quality and quantity of the materials.
Binga, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Samson Tijos, also thanked the federal government for considering the request made by Governor Darius Ishaku concerning the plight of the IDPs in the state.
Also speaking, Alhaji Abdulnasir Bobboji, Chairman, Jalingo Local Government Area appealed to the Federal Government to assist the IDPs with building materials, saying that many of them want to return to their homes but faced with the challenges of shelter.
Some of the beneficiaries said that the materials would go a long way in cushioning the effect of hardship being experienced by IDPs.
