As the Federal Government intensify efforts toward the rescue of the abducted Chibok school girls, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has convened a meeting of humanitarian stakeholders to develop a suitable response plan for the social re-integration of the girls and appropriate supports to the community.
Addressing the stakeholders meeting in Abuja, Director General of the NEMA Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi said it was expected to validate a draft humanitarian response plan for Chibok and has become imperative to build synergy as well as strengthen coordination mechanism for humanitarian assistance to the affected persons and community.
He said “while the Federal Government is working assiduously towards the safe release of the abducted girls and reunite them with their families members, it is important that a sectoral response plan be prepared for their rehabilitation and re-integration back to normal life.
He further said that “the objective of this meeting is to integrate all plans into one holistic multi-sector response plan to avoid duplication of efforts, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and mobilize supports towards the humanitarian challenges being faced by the affected population of Chibok Local Government. “
While noting that NEMA has already commenced humanitarian intervention in Chibok, the Director General observed the existence of yet some gaps in the requirement of the affected persons, “hence the call for collective action in the priority sectors of protection, health, education, emergency food and non food items, water and sanitation as well as provision of durable solutions.”
Also speaking, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Nigeria Mr Dauda Toure urged the stakeholders to support the initiative of NEMA by making useful contribution towards its success.
The Chairman of Chibok Local Government who was represented at the meeting by Mr Musa Elijah Kolo appreciated the Federal Government for coming to the aid of the people but requested for speedy rescue of the abducted girls, rehabilitation and upgrading of public infrastructures in the area.
