Mercy Corps has unveiled $18 million (N8.28 billion) to address diverse and acute primary threats (ADAPT II) to humanity in the Northeast.
The implementation of ADAPT was to provide shelter to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and returnees and recover their lost means of livelihoods in Borno.
Unveiling the recoveries and shelter projects, yesterday (Wednesday) in Maiduguri, the ADAPT Programme Manager, Maxwell Samaila, disclosed that; “Over 126, 200 targeted beneficiaries were drawn from Bama, Damboa, Dikwa, Gwoza, Monguno and Ngala Local Councils of the State.”
He added that the provision of adaptable shelter and recoveries of livelihoods of vulnerable IDPs and returnees will last for 12 months.
According to him, ADAPT II is to save lives and protect human suffering among displaced persons, returnees and host communities.
“This will reduce physical, social and economic impacts of rapid and slow onset disasters,” he said, noting that it also aligns with the 2021 humanitarian response plan’s strategic objectives.
Besides, he added that the phase two ADAPT projects are to improve IDP camps living conditions and other services.
He noted that these are the means to alleviate food insecurity and related severe vulnerabilities among IDPs and returnees.
“This will also strengthen self-reliant livelihoods for the IDPs,” adding that they could also prevent communicable disease outbreaks in camps and host communities.
On the engagements of beneficiaries, he disclosed: “Out of the targeted beneficiaries, 78, 998 are displaced persons from the six Local Councils affected in the 13-year conflict.
He further disclosed that the Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) was to support in-need new arrivals and forcibly returned IDPs.
While the appropriate shelter solutions were also provided to meet the various needs of newly IDPs and existing ones in camps and host communities.
In restoring livelihoods in the agricultural sector, he said: “We support small scale agriculture and poultry production to restore IDPs and returnees’ lost livelihoods.”
He said that the restorations were to strengthen their skills and take off capital to produce food and livestock and boost their incomes.
In the performance evaluation of ADAPT I, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Tijjani Babakura said: “Our findings indicated that there were high percentage performances in agriculture, nutrition, MPCA, WASH and protection of the vulnerable persons.”
He added that there was also 212% performance in the provision of shelter in the targeted Councils.
Babakura, however, noted that protection had only 48% of targeted beneficiaries, stating that there are several areas hard to reach, because of insecurity to the lives of people.
