By Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri, Nigeria
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has increased the
quantity of food rations from 4.5 kilogrammes to 8.4kg to Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) for distribution in camps and host
communities for every month, before they return to their ancestral
homes.
The NEMA Director General, Mustapha Maihaja announced the food rations
increase to journalists in Maiduguri, after returning from Banki camp;
to assess the living conditions of returnees from Cameroon, Chad and
Niger.
He said after inspecting the IDPs’ Federal Government Food
Intervention Program of the North East, the “door to door
distribution” of food items to displaced households, should be
sustained, before they returned to liberated communities.
His words: “We have critically observed the situation and what we have
done is to double what some international NGOs are giving to the IDPs.
“What we are giving them now is 8.4kg as against the 4.5kg they were
collecting before. The standard practice all over the world is 10.6kg.
I think we are not doing badly in that regards to improve living
conditions of displaced persons in camps.
“We have also discussed with World Food Program (WFP); which has also
increased its food rations to 8.4kg and we have a better synergy now.
NEMA does not go to the communities where WFP is distributing food so
as to avoid duplication.”
Maihaja however noted that the situation in Banki requires urgent
attention; because the border town is home to over 46,000 IDPs; who
are returning from Cameroon. This is the aim of the agency to get
first-hand information of the returnees and camps.
He continued: “The Federal Government is worried over the manner in
which the returnees enter Banki; and we have to address the lapses
associated with their living conditions, which include, shelter, food,
water supply and health care.
“The next step; which will include the Bama Pilot Initiative will
focus on restoring the livelihoods of the returnees after establishing
civil authorities in the liberated areas.
He also participated in the tent to tent distribution of food and
non-food items to some IDPs households at Banki.
