Refugees commission bags most supportive humanitarian organisation award
NAN-H-56
Award
By Lizzy Okoji
Abuja, Oct. 13, 2017 (NAN) The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has received the award of the most supportive humanitarian government organisation for its efforts in bringing succour to displaced persons.
The award was given to the Commission by the Institute for Humanitarian Studies and Social Development (IHSDA) on Friday in Abuja at its annual humanitarian public lectures and award.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports this year’s public lecture and award by the IHSDA was in commemoration of the 2017 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
Receiving the award, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI said that the award was an indication that the Commission was doing well in its humanitarian interventions.
She explained that the award would further encourage the commission to do more.
According to her, disasters are one of the leading causes of internal displacement, a situation Nigeria was currently saddled with as a result of the insurgency in the North East, flooding and other natural disasters.
She said that the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East has led to the displacement of about two million Nigerians and over 180,000 refugees in Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
According to her, the challenges of the IDPs and refugees are enormous ranging from protection needs, empowerment, social cohesion and camp management.
She said that one of the ways to completely eradicate the challenges of internal displacement is to direct attention towards the provision of durable solutions, so that displaced persons can have their lives back and in dignity.
“Distribution of relief materials is never a long lasting solution to displaced population.
“The major ingredient towards the provision of durable solution is to develop a Standard Assistant Package (SAP), a tool required to implement resettlement concept.
“The SAP concept includes the provision of Food and Non-food items, Shelter, National Health Insurance Scheme, income generation machinery, pysco-social support, monitoring and evaluation.
“The NCFRMI has used the SAP concept to resettle and reintegrate some displaced populations in Nasarawa and Adamawa States respectively.
“ The SAP concept is hereby prescribed as a way forward to providing durable solutions to the displaced population”, Farouq said.
Farouq said that more funding is required for the Commission and other relevant stakeholders to achieving durable solutions to persons of concern.
In his remarks, Amb. Francis Origa, Registrar of the institute, said that the awardees were recognized for their sincere humanitarian interventions and activities and not based on political or self recognition.
He said that the event was driven by a desire to publicly acknowledge individuals, groups and organisations that have consistently contributed to the reduction of humanitarian crises through poverty alleviation and national development.
Origa said that the NCFRMI was also recognized for its efforts in alleviating the plights of IDPs and refugees, since the beginning of the insurgency in the North-East and also for helping victims of natural disasters across the country.
He said that since its inception, the IHSDA has been in the forefront of creating various national platforms for stakeholders, policy makers, institutions and sociopolitical actors to dialogue and provide pragmatic solutions and policy directions to challenges emanating from humanitarianism.
He called on relevant agencies of government and private sector to partner the Institute in its activities.
NAN reports that Farouq was also bagged ‘Humanitarian Titan’ award and fellow of the institute alongside Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi and his Wife, Hajiya Amina Bello and 11 others. (NAN)
LIZ/AFA
======
Edited by Felix Ajide