Beneficiaries Appreciate As NEMA Concludes KSrelief Food Distribution

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has concluded the distribution of food items donated by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno State with some of the beneficiaries appreciating the gesture from Saudi Arabia and the Federal Government for facilitating the support through NEMA.

According to a press release on Wednesday, 18th January 2023 signed by the NEMA Head of Press Unit, Mr. Manzo Ezekiel, said that the Saudi Arabian-based humanitarian agency, KSrelief donated the food items which were distributed to about 16,000 IDPs households by NEMA in collaboration with Borno State Emergency Management Agency at 8 camps and host communities located at El-Miskin, Doro, Asheri, Shuwari, Nganzai, Muna Kumbori, Gongulon, Madinatu 1 and Madinatu 2 that are located in and around Maiduguri, the state capital.

The relief distribution was flagged off by the Governor of Borno State Professor Babagana Umar Zulum with the Director General NEMA Mustapha Habib Ahmed on 6th December 2022 at El-Miskin Camp.

The Director of Planning Research and Forecasting NEMA Hajiya Fatima Suleiman Kasim coordinated the food distribution which was carried out in two cycles in December 2022 and January 2023 respectively. She said each of the 16,000 IDPs households was given a total of 59.8kilogram basket of food comprising 25kg of rice; 25kg of beans; 4kg of Masa Vita flour; 2kg of tomato paste; 2litres of groundnut oil; 1kg of salt and 0.8kg of seasoning cubes.

She explained the partnership between NEMA and KSrelief, noting that it dates back to 2018 and 2021 when the Saudi Arabian humanitarian agency donated similar relief items that were distributed by NEMA to IDPs and persons affected by banditry in Borno, Yobe, and Zamfara States respectively.

Some beneficiaries of the food items appreciated KSrelief and the Government of Saudi Arabia for the donation and NEMA for being diligent in the distribution at the camps. A housewife Malam Iyakura who lives in Shuwari camp and benefitted from the food donation said she thanked the Government of Saudi Arabia for the items and NEMA for facilitating the delivery of the items to them.

In another testimony, Malam Mukhtar Umar who is an IDP living in Doro camp said the donation was a huge relief to them in complementing the support they were receiving from the Federal and Borno State Governments. He, however, expressed the wish to return home to his community to live in safety and cater to his family. He also appreciated the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Government for the food donation and orderly distribution to the beneficiaries.

In a similar reaction, another beneficiary Malam Mohammed Lawan in Asheri Camp said he was excited by the food items given to him and other IDPs. While appreciating the relief support, he also thanked the Nigerian military for their commitments and sacrifices to restore security for the safe return of the displaced persons back to their communities.

In the same vein, a community-based worker at El-Miskin camp Mr. Abdullahi Mohammed said the relief donation and distribution at the camp were timely. He said the declining food situation in the camp had prompted a call for support, which the intervention has come at the right time and provided for the feeding needs of the IDPs.