The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has donated relief materials including foodstuff and other items to victims of the recent flood disaster in Damboa and Chibok local government areas, as well as victims of the recent Boko Haram attacks in Yamtake, Ngoshe, Bita and Kirawa in Gwoza local government area of Borno State.
Handing over the items in Maiduguri yesterday, the state coordinator of NEDC, Mr Mohammed Umar, said based on the needs assessment, the management of NEDC approved the relief items to cushion the effects of the disasters.
He added that internally displaced persons (IDPs) who returned from Cameroon and Chad to their ancestral homes would benefit from the items donated, including building materials.
He said,” For Chibok and Damboa victims of flood, we have 1500 25kg bags of rice; 1500 cartons of spaghetti, 1500 gallons of vegetable oil, 500 25kg bags of sugar, 2000 pieces of wrappers, 2000 pieces of children’s wears, 2000 pieces of brocade, 2000 pieces of mats, 2000 pieces of blankets and 1500 pieces of mosquito nets.
“For the people of Gwoza that were affected by the recent Boko Haram attacks, we are giving them 1500 25kg bags of rice; 1000 cartons of spaghetti,1000 gallons of vegetable oil down to mosquito sets. In total , what was given to these affected localities are 2800 25kg bags of rice, 2800 cartons of spaghetti, 2500 pieces of children wears, 2700 pieces of brocade, 3500 pieces of mats, 3250 pieces of blankets, and 2000 pieces of mosquito nets.”
He said the building materials that were approved for the returnees of Ashigashia are 200 bundles of roofing sheets , 200 cartons of nails, 500 bags of cement, 250 pieces of blankets, 200 pieces of mats and 2000 ceiling sheets.
He said some of the items would be handed over to the member representing Gwoza at the State House of Assembly for onward distribution to his people, while the Chibok and Damboa items would be handed over to members representing them, as the building materials would be handed over to Sen. Aii Ndume for his people.
Umar added that the managing director of NEDC, Mohammed Goni Alkali, was ever ready to intervene in issues like this, saying the commission is trying to be proactive in tackling issues of victims of disasters or attacks in the Northeast.
