By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
Governor Babagana Zulum has held an emergency meeting with United Nations Humanitarian officials and other development partners to interface on how to collaborate, liaise, coordinate and damage houses, other structures or buildings and health as well as educational facilities to enable the IDPs returned to their domains and co continue with their normal life.
He also so lites to support and assistance from the INGOs and other donora in bash it materials to complements with efforts and SA resources of the state government, .
Governor Zulum who stated this during the meeting pledged to continue to liaise and collaborate with the UN and it’s partners including providing and coordinating the distribution of food non food items and cash for rehabilitation and renovation of house,.
Others include public facilities including environmental sanitation and hygiene, water supply and hospital or clinics and schools to make them functional and useful work collectively together in addressing the impact of the devastating flood that has ravaged about 70% of the entire Maiduguri city recently.
This is as he warned strongly against indiscriminate distribution and camping of of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) elsewhere without consideration and due process , especially in the already closed public schools without the permission of the state government, as most of the over 30 camps are temporarily as water recedes.
Zulum while welcoming the leader of the UN delegation, UN OCHA Deputy National Humanitarian Coordinator, Esty Sutyoke said, “Now that we have succeeded in the rescue mission, and as the water recedes, we must collaborate together to avoid duplication of efforts in the affected communities. ”
“Unfortunately, we have realized that most of the people trooping into the newly opened Camps, are not actual victims of the flood disaster.
“Let me tell you a scenario, I was at Yerwa Girls Secondary school where i presided over the distribution of cash, food and non-food items, surprisingly when I left and was driving to Gomari Airport after the exercise, I saw people carrying the bags of rice and other items on their shoulders heading towards the same direction of Gomari where there was no any single incident of flood, signifying that many trooping inside camps are not victims, so we have to very unfortunate and coordinated.
“We need UN assistance in rebuilding the destroyed houses, hospitals, schools and critical infrastructures. We want to use this opportunity to thank UN, all stakeholders and individuals that have been assisted us in one way or the other in this trying moment”. Zulum said
Responding on behalf of the the UN Delegation, UN OCHA Deputy National Humanitarian Coordinator, Esty Sutyoke, commiserated with Government and people of the state over the incident.
, she also promised to work closely together with office of the Borno State Special Adviser of Humanitarian Affairs and Sustainable Development, Dr. Mario Mandara and other relevant agencies to achieve desired immediate and durable solutions to address the menace of the flood disaster and other crisis affecting the state.
She also pledged to continue to support the people and government of Borno especially on health against any disease or outbreak among others su g as education, water supply and environmental sanitation.
