The ASATTAHIR International Foundation (AIF), with support from the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Nigeria, commenced the distribution of Emergency Shelter Kits and Non-food Items to three different internally displaced persons camps in Sokoto on Monday.
The exercise was flagged off at Ramin Kura IDP Camp in Sokoto, with the presence of dignitaries from various government MDAs, including the Honourable Commissioner and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, as well as Directors of Women Affairs and Child Development from the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.
Speaking in his opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Prof. Yahaya Tanko Baba, thanked the Sokoto state government for creating an enabling environment for Civil Society Organizations and Development Partners to complement its untiring efforts in humanitarian endeavours. He noted that IDPs and refugees are living in deplorable and sympathetic conditions that require urgent interventions in areas spanning from shelter, safe space, food and nutrition, and health to economic empowerment. He reiterated the Foundation’s commitment to cushioning the lamentable conditions of the IDPs and refugees.
Similarly, the Head of Programs and Research of ASATTAHIR International Foundation (AIF), Rufus Yagkong, presented the statistics of the beneficiaries, adding that his team strictly followed the eligibility criteria set by the Danish Refugee Council in the selection process.
In his welcome address, the Founder and Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Aliyu Sidi Attahiru, thanked the dignitaries for sparing time to attend the flag-off and distribution of items to beneficiaries despite their tight schedules. He emphasized the Foundation’s urgency in responding to the plights of Internally Displaced Persons and refugees, as informed by its choice as a key thematic area of ASATTAHIR International Foundation.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Ya’u Muhammad Danda, applauded the Danish Refugee Council for supporting various governments across the world in areas of humanitarian needs, particularly the Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees. He commended the ASATTAHIR International Foundation for being in the forefront and the contact organization for persons displaced by conflicts, insecurity, and/or natural disasters. He further called on the beneficiaries to make good use of the items donated to them, warning against exchanging them for money when they need the items they’ve received.
In her goodwill message, the Director of Women Affairs, Hajiya Habiba Ahmad, commended AIF for being a partner that has been the succour for vulnerable groups. She recounted the various collaborative activities involving the Ministry and the Foundation in responding to the health, nutrition, and social needs of vulnerable groups in the state.
The Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) commended AIF and DRC for intervening in the areas of protection and social well-being of IDPs and refugees in the state, stating that the intervention is timely and on course.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of SOSACAT, Mal. Umar Bello stated that his agency has partnered with AIF in various outreaches and health screenings of IDPs and vulnerable groups across some hotspots of possible outbreaks of infectious diseases in the state. He hoped that the collaboration with the foundation would be expanded and sustained.
While presenting the items to some of the beneficiaries, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the quality and quantity of items donated to the beneficiaries.
The non-food items distributed included mattresses, trays, cups, blankets, sleeping mats, reusable sanitary pads, cooking pots, knives, service spoons, washing soaps, Jerry cans, plastic kettles, mosquito nets, and big carrying bags.
The emergency shelter kits included treated timbers, plastic sheeting, twisted ropes, blankets, mosquito nets, and binding wires.
On receipt of the items, the beneficiaries were overwhelmed with joy and expressed their appreciation to AIF and DRC for coming to their aid, especially at the onset of the harmattan season, which requires some sort of shelter and protective materials against the cold.
Other government functionaries in attendance included the Director General and Director of Relief of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Director General of Donor Agencies and NGOs, the Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Agency for the Control of AIDS and Tuberculosis (SOSACAT), security agencies, as well as representatives of the State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
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