NEMA develops humanitarian response plan for Chibok

ABUJA (NEMA Report)

As the Nigerian Government intensifies efforts towards rescuing the abducted Chibok School girls, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has convened a meeting of humanitarian stakeholders to develop a suitable response plan for the social re-integration of the girls and appropriate supports to the community.

While addressing the stakeholders meeting in Abuja lately, the Director-General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi said that the Agency is expected to validate a draft humanitarian response plan for Chibok and is working to build synergy as well as strengthen coordination mechanisms for humanitarian assistance to the affected persons and the community.

“The Federal Government is working assiduously towards the safe release of the abducted girls and re-uniting them with their family members. It is important that a sectoral response plan be prepared for their rehabilitation and re-integration back to normal life. The objective of this meeting is to integrate all plans into one holistic, multi-sectored response plan. It is also to help avoid the duplication of efforts, strengthening of inter-agency collaboration and mobilisation of support towards tackling the humanitarian challenges being faced by the affected population in Chibok Local Government Area,” Sani noted.

The NEMA DG disclosed that NEMA has already commenced humanitarian intervention in Chibok, observing the presence of loopholes in the provision for some of the affected persons, particularly in the collective action for some priority sectors such as protection, health, education, emergency food and non-food items, water and sanitation as well as the provision of durable solutions.

Also speaking, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Nigeria, Dauda Toure urged the stakeholders to support the initiative of NEMA by making useful contributions towards its success.

The Chairman of Chibok Local Government Area, who was represented at the meeting by Musa Elijah Kolo appreciated the Federal Government for coming to the aid of the people. He requested for speedy rescue of the abducted girls, rehabilitation and upgrading of public infrastructures in the area.