A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Plan International (PI), has presented relief materials worth millions of naira to over 2,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) households in Mangu and Bokkos local government areas of Plateau State.
The group’s intervention is to complement the efforts of the Plateau State government to resettle the IDPs back to their ancestral homes.
LEADERSHIP Friday monitored the exercise in Mangun, Mangu local government area and observed that non-food items and N60,000 cash were given to each benefitting household.
The gender advisor of Plan International, Mr Hanoch Hebron, said the gesture was in collaboration with Action Aid, Christian Aid and supported by Start Network.
“Today, we were here in Mangu local government to support the people affected by the crisis by providing nonfood items supported by Plan International.
So, this is just the starting point of all the distributions happening in these few days.
“Some items include mattresses, bowls, mosquito nets, touch lights, blankets, laundering soap, bathing soap, and kitchen accessories such as knives, plates, and spoons.
“The items intended to support those households to restore their dignity and basic needs so they can go about their everyday lives despite what has happened.
“We are supporting over 2,000 households in total. The distribution exercise will occur in Tielangpat, Chikam, and other locations forming parts of Mangu and Bokkos.
“In this location, Mangun, we have 282 household beneficiaries, while in other places, we have up to 700, and so on.
“We also encouraged beneficiaries with cash so that they would not sell the items; rather, they should use those items for the benefit of their homes and enjoy the benefits of this intervention.”
Meanwhile, while applauding the donors, the Transition Implementation Committee chairman of Mangu local government areas, Samuel Artu, said Governor Caleb Mutfwang is doing everything humanly possible to return the victims back to their ancestral homes.
He assured that the government will continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure peace and security in Plateau communities.
The district head of Mangu, His Royal Highness Job Dapal Dapunyal, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) vice chairman of Mangu LGA, Dr. Joseph Opara, prayed to God to replenish donors’ efforts in helping traumatised people.
Some beneficiaries, Mrs Happy Dauda Sarpiya and Mrs Lydia Luka, who expressed delight, promised to use the items judiciously, saying that the money given would enable them to begin a new chapter of their lives.
