NAN-DS-6
Donation
By Yahaya Isah
Abuja, Nove. 21, 2016 (NAN ) The Nigerian Air Force (NAF ) on Monday presented relief materials and a cheque of the sum of N7 million to Air Force Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA ) for onward delivery to IDPs camps in the North-East.
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, while handing over the items to the association, said the donation was informed by the plight of IDPs in the region due to the activities of Boko Haram insurgents.
The CAS was represented by the Director of medical services, Air Force Headquarters, AVM Saleh Shinkafi.
According to Abubakar, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that about three million Nigerians had been displaced from their towns and villages as a result of the activities of the insurgents.
This, he said, was mostly in the North –East and in other parts of the country.
“They now found themselves mostly in various camps within and outside the affected states. They live in very crowded camps without adequate shelter, food, water, medical care and means of livelihood.
Abubakar said that it was as a result of this situation that NAF personnel came together and voluntarily donated money and materials to meet some of their needs.
“They are completely dependent on government and organisations or individuals that bring one form of assistance or another to them,’’ he said.
This assistance, he said, had been inadequate due to the number and complexity of the IDPs’ problems, which called for more assistance by the government or other stakeholders.
He said further that NAF had also embarked on `hearts and minds’ campaign through provision of medical care and other facilities to IDPs.
The CAS said that the gesture also saw the establishment of emergency hospitals at Dalori and Bama IDPs camps.
“NAF’s modest contributions had helped in alleviating some of the problems faced by IDPs,’’ he said.
The NAF Chief, therefore, called on well meaning Nigerians to assist in whichever way, as the IDPs’ needs were enormous.
He said that he had no doubt that the association would deliver the donation to the intended beneficiaries.
The National President of NAFOWA, Hajia Hafsat Abubakar, said the presentation came at the right time in view of the situation in IDPs camps in the North-East.
She called on well meaning organisations and individuals to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by providing succour to the IDPs.
She described the donation as an attestation of the vision of the leadership of NAF of promoting good civil-military relations within its operational environment.
“ I know that this gesture is not going to be a one-time effort and we look forward to carrying out more outreaches to the IDPs camps in future.
“We, in NAFOWA, will definitely carry out a judicious and transparent distribution of the items to the beneficiaries,’’ the president said. (NAN)
YI/AMY/AMY
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Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf