ABUJA – The United Nations Humanitarian Emergency Directors and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), have pledged continued support and collaboration in delivering humanitarian support to victims of insurgency and displacement.
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They reiterated their support when a team of Humanitarian Emergency Directors representing various UN Agencies paid a courtesy visit on Mr Muhammad Sani-Sidi, the NEMA Director-General, in Abuja.
Sani-Sidi, while appreciating their gesture, said that in channeling support to the country, they needed to understand the principles of humanitarian assistance to ensure effective collaboration.
He said that a comprehensive assessment of the displaced persons in the North East with all the partners and coordinated response from NEMA, would be the best approach in bringing positive change and recovery to the people.
Sani-Sidi added that any unilateral action would be counterproductive as it would only cause confusion, duplication, and waste of resources, which would not be in the interest of the IDPs.
The director-general highlighted some of the areas where their support would be needed to include collaboration to provide a durable solution to the insurgency and the creation of livelihood for the people.
He added that one critical area where support was needed was in building resilience and value chain in the communities, continuous education and a comprehensive protection of orphans and vulnerable children.
“It is in the spirit of the above that we thank you for your visit to Adamawa State, one of the states under insurgency in Nigeria.
“The situation in the North-East is a sad one for us and without doubt, this period has been difficult for us as NEMA and and as a country.
“Terrorism is new to us in Nigeria and as you are aware, the situation started about five years ago and managing the consequences of insurgency is also new to us.
“I believe that no country can do it alone especially in a situation of managing complex emergencies. And so, we really do appreciate your timely support,’’ Sanni-Sidi said.
Earlier, Mr John Gings, the Director of Operations, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), said that the UN humanitarian agencies were committed to helping Nigeria through this critical situation.
Gings, who led the team, said that Nigeria had been of great help to other countries in times of similar challenges, and as such, the international community was ready to support the authorities and the people.
He said that the assistance and collaboration had been ongoing and that the team was seeking to to upscale its level of support and solidarity.
He further commended NEMA, SEMAs, and communities for their care and support to the victims and the authorities, including security agencies for liberating the areas under the control of the insurgents,
“We have been to Yola and have seen first hand the situation on ground, the challenges, displaced persons in camps and host communities and listening to their stories and sufferings has further motivated us.
“We are, however, impressed with the assistance of the government, our colleagues on ground, faith-based organisations, leadership of communities, and of course NEMA and SEMAs,’’ Gings said.
NAN reports that the team from various UN Agencies included representatives from OCHA, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), WHO, UNICEF, FAO and International Organisation on Migration (IOM), among others. (NAN)