Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Adamawa have endorsed the food rationing for deserving households adopted by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The development followed a resolution by the IDPs when the Director-General of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Maihaja, paid a situation report visit to three IDPs camps in the state.
The camps visited included Fufore, Malkohi and St. Theresa camps.
Maihaja, who was represented by Onimode Bandele, Director, Relief and Rehabilitation of the Agency said the visit was aimed to unravel the cause behind the rejection of the food rations delivered to the Fufore IDPs camp.
It will be recalled that some aggrieved IDPs in the Fufore IDPs camp had on Feb. 28, rejected the food rations supplied to them by NEMA.
The displaced persons alleged that what was distributed to them was not up to the quantity of food ration they were expecting from the agency.
Maihaja said since the displaced persons had agreed to accept the food ration, the items would be delivered to them with immediate effect.
He said: “We are here to verify why there was a disagreement between our operations office in Yola and the IDPs in Fufore.
“Food rations were brought and it was said to have been rejected because it was not up to the quantity they expected.
“But, I want to take you to the history of the Emergency Food Intervention of the North East, which was launched by the Federal Government in June 2017.
“At that point, it was agreed that the rations would be 50kg of foodstuffs while condiments would be added, unfortunately, there is misinformation and it was not adhered to strictly.
“Starting from March, condiments which include 2-litres of cooking oil, 1 kilogramme of salt, 2 kilogrammes of tomato paste and 1.2 kilogrammes of seasoning will be given to each household.
“This is to ensure that every household gets the right food rations for their family,” he said.
The DG, while apologising for the occasional logistical delay in delivery of food items, assured the readiness of the Agency to look into the issue of non-food items for the overall well being of the displaced persons.
Also speaking, Mr Bakura Umar, Chairman of the Fufore IDPs camp, lauded the Agency for the prompt response to their plight and affirmed their readiness to accept the approved food ration.
“We appreciate you for coming and we want to assure you that we will not protest again once everything goes back to normal.
“We want peace and we are ready to corporate with the agency,” he said.
On her part, Mrs Safiratu Ayuba, Women Leader of the camp, while appreciated the Agency, tasked the agency on timely distribution of food items.
“I want to beg you to deliver our food items on time as we have orphans and aged, who can not work but depend on this food,” she said.