Mercy Corps under the auspices of building resilience in complex crisis (BRICC) has distributed catering and tailoring skills equipment to 26.875 households in Yobe State. The 36 months project was to build the resilience of households affected in the 12-year Boko Haram insurgency in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states. While handing over the equipment Tuesday in Damaturu, the state capital, the Mercy Corps’ Field Manager in the state, Hugh Briggs disclosed: “The distributed equipment will increase households’ ability to cope with the shocks of conflict, climate change and the risk of future conflicts.” The distributed equipment include deep freezers, refrigerators, gas cookers, Tower pots, frying pans. Others comprise aluminum pots, knives, frying spoons and pans, chopping boards, buckets and sewing machines.
He said applications of equipment in the various skills could transform households’ underlying dynamics to reduce risk of future conflict. “We’re building the absorptive and adaptive resilience capacities of men, women and youths,” he said, adding that they are to engage with communities and their leaders to create conditions that can facilitate systematic change. Besides, he added: “We are supporting the state government to develop a social protection policy to address the needs of the vulnerable population in the Ministry of Women Affairs.” According to him, the BRICC program is restoring and creating community economic assets & water points.
He noted that; this is how the vulnerable and conflict-affected households meet their basic needs, including increased savings with improved access to basic health. He said that the vulnerable and conflict-affected households have restored and improved their livelihoods; which are more resilient to conflict and climate shocks and stresses. In her response, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Tonga Betara thanked the European Union (EU) for the support. She said the support will reduce the sufferings of women and youths in the communities. “Today’s intervention will develop a robust policy of addressing the needs of the vulnerable persons in the state,” she said.
