NAN-H-50
Empowerment
By Lizzy Okoji and Kabir Mohammed
Abuja, June 2, 2017 (NAN) The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has pledged to focus on the economic empowerment of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), to make them less dependent on humanitarian assistance.
Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, the NCFRMI Federal Commissioner, gave the pledge on Friday, when she distributed relief materials to IDPs at the Durumi-Area one camps in the FCT.
Farouq stressed the need to empower them so that they could become self-sustaining.
She promised that the commission would continue to provide opportunities to promote their dignity and self-reliance.
According to Farouq, the commission is ramping up its activities to focus on economic empowerment, based on its assessment of the displacement crises.
She explained that scaling up the commission’s activities on economic empowerment was the new focus based on knowledge acquired from its pilot projects across the North-East, and in consultations with stakeholders and the affected persons.
“This is the first phase of our intervention and we are going to do more in the nearest future.
“It is not all about bringing food for them but we want to teach and empower them on how to get their own food.
“Our subsequent intervention would be in the areas of empowerment and we would make sure they are empowered before returning to their various communities when they are safe enough.
“We will touch on every area of skill acquisition that they indicate interest and for those of them that have acquired skills, we are giving them the starter packs to make very good use of.
“In this intervention, we have brought in some educational materials as part of our efforts to support the education of the children.
“We are planning to partner with government schools so that these children can be enrolled in proper schools.’’
Farouq gave and assurance that the NCFRMI would tackle protection issues faced by vulnerable groups such as women, children, the disabled and the elderly, among others.
She said the commission would intervene by providing specialised psycho-social interventions such as psychotherapy, counselling and improved access to social services and amenities.
She said that the Commission would also strengthen the coordination of donors and stakeholders, to ensure that humanitarian assistance and relief items reached the real IDPs.
The Federal Commissioner urged the IDPs to remain law-abiding and not engage in criminal activities.
Responding, Mr Ibrahim Halilu, IDPs Coordinator at the Camp, thanked the government, NGOs and kind-hearted individuals catering for them since they ran to safety in the FCT.
Halilu, however, urged the government to do more in improving their living condition, especially in the area of empowerment.
He said that the make-shift tents provided for them were already dilapidated.
The coordinator also said that the clinic in the camp lacked medicine, while the temporary classrooms for the children were not well ventilated.
Also speaking, Dr Hussein Haruna of Yusra Peace Care Foundation, urged the government to do more in supporting the efforts of NGOs and volunteers to meet the needs of the IDPs.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NGOs, Faith-based organisations and individuals have been supporting government’s efforts by providing medical and educational services in the Camp.
The Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) provided the temporary classroom with volunteer teachers from Global Treasure Care Foundation, Dunamis Church and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
NAN also reports that the Yusra Peace Care Foundation has also assisted in providing medical services including drugs to the IDPs.
Food and non-food items distributed included bags of rice, beans, maize, pairs of schools sandals, cartons of books and biro, slippers and clothes. (NAN)
LIZ/KM/JEY/NKO
==============
Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Nkechi Okoronkwo