The Yobe Government said it had taken additional measures to coordinate donors’ assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state to guard against insurgents disguising as donors to infiltrate the camps.
The state Deputy Governor, Abubakar Aliyu disclosed this on Saturday in Damaturu in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Abubakar, who is also the Chairman, Committee on Rehabilitation and Relocation of IDPs, said it had become necessary to adopt additional security measures for the safety of the IDPs.
“We urge all donors ranging from government organisations to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and philanthropists to liaise with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) while providing assistance to the IDPs”, he said.
He said the state government had been providing food, shelter, water, health and sanitation needs of the IDPs in both government and self- established camps.
“The coordination between government and the donors has an advantage of avoiding duplication, improving synergy and intervening in areas where there are challenges and limitations”, Abubakar said.
The deputy governor said the state had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on specific areas of intervention.
“The MoU signed between the state government and NEMA will check cases of duplication, waste and effective intervention to further improve the lives of the IDPs.
“I urge other donor organisations and individuals to emulate NEMA to intervene through SEMA and work with the state government to provide assistance where they are most needed”, he said.
Abubakar said government had worked out a three-month plan with the hope of relocating the displaced persons to their communities.
“However, this depends on the assessment of the situation in the affected communities, government will liaise with security agencies for advice on the safety of returning back to the communities”, he said. (NAN)
