From Olukayode Idowu, Maiduguri
SUNRISE NEWS, Borno, Aug 21, 2020 The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday took relief materials to orphans and widows in troubled Borno State.
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has recently complained that Boko Haram insurgency has orphaned 59,311 children and made 59,123 women widows.
The insurgency has been reported to have displaced about two million people in the Northeast with Borno State having the largest share.
The Acting Zonal Coordinator, NEMA North East, Chonoko Isah was on Friday at Future Prowess Foundation Orphans School, Maiduguri to deliver food items approved by Director General of the Agency, Air Vice Marshal Muhammadu Mohammed (rtd) as part of the programme of the humanitarian agency to bring succour to widows and orphans especially the victims of Boko Haram insurgency.
Isah said the agency has been doing this from time to time and has the need arises.
He noted that Friday’s delivery was part of the numerous assistance extended by the agency to orphans and widows affected by insurgency in the state, adding that the DG has given instruction that widows and orphans should be assisted at all times.
The agency had on Thursday distributed food items to 17 internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri and neighbouring local government areas of Borno State.
Also food items were distributed to host and accessible liberated communities in the state, as part of the agency’s routine monthly distribution to victims of insurgency in the troubled Borno state.
At the distribution which was flag off at Bakassi IDP camp in Maiduguri, the NEMA Leader of Food Distribution Team in Borno State, Flight Lieutenant Umar Sani, had disclosed that the designated areas included 17 camps with seven official camps within Maiduguri, seven camps outside the state capital and three camps in liberated areas of Jakana, Mainok and Benesheik.
He said a total of 38,000 households benefit monthly from the distribution in Borno state.
He said each household gets 25kg of beans, 12.5kg of rice, 12.5kg of maize and condiment that will last for one month.
He urged the IDPs not to sell the items provided to them as government would not condone such negative practice.