Further to the humanitarian response of the Federal Government to communities affected by the security challenges in the North East zone of Nigeria, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has deployed relief assistance to the displaced Nigerians that fled into the nearby Republic of Niger to provide them with immediate succor.
NEMA had last week said that only 126 Nigerians had fled across to the Republic of Niger. The Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi confirmed that the Agency is responding to the humanitarian needs of the displaced Nigerians to alleviate their conditions.
He said the basic needs of the refugees were identified by a special assessment carried out by a team of the Agency that was dispatched to the Republic of Niger country to ascertain the conditions of Nigerians that had crossed over the border into the country. The assessment was carried out along with officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Niamey, Nigerien authorities and resident representatives of United Nations OCHA, UNHCR and the Red Cross.
The DG NEMA noted that the relief intervention will also ease the pressure brought on local resources of the host communities by the refugees. Most of the refugees, he said were found to be in Bosso and its environs in the Diffa Region of the Republic of Niger.
The DG NEMA reiterated the commitment of the Agency to provide necessary supports to Nigerians in distress within and outside the country.
The relief deployed to Niger Republic are made up of food, non food items and medicals.
Manzo Ezekiel
Press Officer
6th June 2013
08028419313
