The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has flagged off the distribution of relief materials to 6,000 households affected by various disasters in Yobe State. The exercise targets vulnerable families across the state who lost homes and belongings to recent emergencies.
The Director General of the agency, Mrs Zubaida Umar, handed over the items in Damaturu, the state capital, to the vulnerable households. She said the intervention is supported by the King Salman Humanitarian Relief Centre of Saudi Arabia for five states in northern Nigeria.
On arrival, the Director General first proceeded to the agency's warehouse in Damaturu to inspect the relief materials before moving on to the flag-off venue, where the items were formally handed over to beneficiaries.
The State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs explained that the intervention is key to ameliorating the sufferings of the victims. He said the gesture by the government and people of Saudi Arabia demonstrates the strong bond of friendship and solidarity between the two nations.
Mrs Umar revealed that the agency had received a total of 54,000 food baskets from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which would be distributed evenly among five states in the north. She noted that Yobe was the first state chosen to flag off the distribution.
She added that a representative of the King Salman Humanitarian Relief Centre was present to witness the event, and that Yobe was the only state he was scheduled to visit during the exercise.
The acting Secretary to the State Government, who represented Governor Mai Mala Buni at the event, described the intervention as key to complementing the ongoing support to vulnerable persons in the state.
Officials said the support is a demonstration of global solidarity, humanitarian compassion and shared responsibility towards communities affected by disasters and vulnerability, with each basket containing essential food items meant to provide relief to households across the state.