Borno govt lauds ICRC, Others over IDPs’ welfare

By Ibrahim M Shelizza

Borno State government has described the intervention of the International Committee on Red Cross (ICRC) and other humanitarian agencies in the welfare of displaced Boko Haram victims in the affected northeast states as timely.

Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Usman Zannah who addressed journalists shortly after his visit to the ICRC office in Maiduguri said the Borno government was highly delighted by the humanitarian interventions of the agency. He said the ICRC has stepped up its intervention for the IDPs in most liberated communities, adding that the intervention has taken away the huge burden on the state government.

“The caring of about two million IDPs in Borno is huge challenge to the state government because a lot of things are needed including shelter or tents, water, toiletries, medication or drugs, buckets, beddings, food items to mention but a few. But as I speak now, the ICRC has delivered 18 trucks of foodstuffs to IDPs at Dikwa alone though these stocks were exhausted within 45 days. So it is a huge challenge,” Zanna said.

He disclosed that the agency also donated tents, foods and non foods items to IDPs at Bama, Kaga, Ngala, Monguno, stressing that the agency has truly demonstrated its humanitarian mission in Borno State. He assured that the state government through the ministry for local governments would give needed support to the ICRC to make its mission in the state a success.

He urged the agency not to relent in its mission even as he called on other humanitarian groups and donor agencies to emulate the ICRC efforts. “While acknowledging the present efforts of the ICRC in salvaging the plight of IDPs in the camps and households, we hereby wish to appeal for further assistance as the magnitude of the crisis expands,” he said.

The commissioner noted the increasing humanitarian challenges in the state with the highest number of displaced persons has put more burden on other local agencies including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), its state counterpart; SEMA, the state as well as local governments of the affected areas.