[Mhiz Rebecca]

IDPs
The Executive Director of United Nations World
Food Programme (WFP), Ms. Ertharin Cousin, has
said that one million returning Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the Northeast are
to be assisted with improved seeds and
agricultural inputs in the process of rebuilding
destroyed communities during this year’s
cropping season.
The beneficiaries are drawn from Borno,
Adamawa and Yobe states.Cousin disclosed this
yesterday in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital,
when a delegation of the WFP paid an official visit
to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam at the Government
House.
She said this year’s Agricultural Input Support
(AGRIS) was to improve productivity of farmers to
fight hunger and poverty in the zone.“Out of the
three most affected states, Yobe alone has 350,000
people that will benefit from the WFP
arrangement to reduce the levels of poverty and
unemployment in the state.
“This agricultural programme was aimed at
checking hunger and poverty among the people
who suffered insurgency for over five years.”
She appreciated the role played by the Yobe State
Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for
actualising the assistance for the less privileged in
society and assured that the WFP would work
hard towards returning peace, growth and even
development of the affected region.
Gaidam, who was represented by his Deputy,
Abubakar Aliyu, said over 600, 000 IDPs and other
less privilege have benefited from WFP cash
transfer and food assistance.
He also thanked WFP for establishing a centre for
capacity development on humanitarian studies at
the state university, adding that it would enhance
the capacity of operators of humanitarian
activities in the insurgency affected states.