By Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in partnership with the American University of Nigeria (AUN) has trained 11,652 people other returnees Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East between January and November this year.
The UN refugee agency, in collaboration with Borno State Government and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), presented empowerment packages and cash donation of N60 million to 800 IDPs graduands improve their livelihoods in communities.
The trained IDP returnees, according to refugee agency, are those living in host communities and members of 80 cooperatives selected from 10 highly-affected local government areas of Borno as livelihood interventions.
Head of Field Officer, UNHCR, Mr. Cesar Tshilombo, disclosed this on Thursday; while welcoming the beneficiaries and participants during the graduation and presentation of starter kits ceremony in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
The Permanent Secretary, Administration, Abubakar Hassan, who represented the Secretary to the State Government, thanked the UNHCR, AUN and other humanitarian agencies in managing the plights of IDPs in the state.
He said the gesture will go a long way in repositioning displaced victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the state and northeast region.
“The state government was doing everything possible in its reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement move of 2.8 million IDPs,” said Hassan.
