Zamfara gets $2.5m humanitarian aid from Saudi Arabia

Zamfara State Government has received $2.5million from Saudi Arabian Donor Agency to support internally displaced persons with humanitarian challenges.

The Commissioner for Humanitarian and Relief Matters, Alhaji Musa Kainuwa disclosed this at the closing session of a five-day medical training on Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) in Gusau on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with State Ministry for Humanitarian and Relief Matters.

Kainuwa said the state secured the assistance during a joint meeting between the donor organisation, Jigawa, Katsina and Zamfara state governments held in Kaduna.

“We are not relenting in our efforts in searching for assistance to ensure we give the desired treatment and support to vulnerable communities.

“We must commend the UNFPA, WHO and all other international donor organisations that are providing the state with all forms of humanitarian gesture to ease the lives of the vulnerable,” he said.

In his remarks, Dr Audu Alayande of UNFPA, noted with concern the extent of humanitarian crisis that hit the state, saying UNFPA would continue to render the needed support.

“In two weeks coming, we will be back to the state for the training of Humanitarian Desk Officers across the 14 local government areas of the state.

“The training is to enhance their capacity towards effective management of the displaced persons,’’ Alayande said.

Misbahu Abubakar of Gurbinbore Primary Healthcare in Zurmi local government and Muhammad Jamilu of Dankurmi Primary Healthcare in Maru local government were participants who shared their experiences on the five-day workshop.

They explained that they really passed through rigorous interface lectures that educated them on the needs of the displaced persons and possible methods of managing their health crisis.

The duo added that the training gave them the opportunity to better understand MISP and expressed determination to implement the procedure to displaced persons.

They appreciated both the state government and UNFPA for finding them worthy of the training, believing that it would go a long way in reducing humanitarian crisis among victims of bandits attacks.