ICRC to supply agric inputs to 20,000 IDPs families in N-East

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is to supply agricultural inputs to over 20, 000 returnee Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) families in Adamawa, Borno and Gombe states, an official has said. Mr Ignacio San Roman, the Head of Sub- delegation of the organization, made this known on Sunday in Yola in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). San Roman said that the gesture was part of the organisation’s agricultural project meant to support the returnee IDPs communities in some states affected by Boko Haram conflict. “In 2016 fiscal year, the ICRC targeted over 20, 000 returnee Internally Displaced Persons families with free bags of fertilizer, improved maize seedlings and herbicides. “The programme was designed by the organisation to assist the vulnerable returnee IDPs families in areas affected by Boko Haram conflict,” San Roman said. He said that almost all the affected communities were farmers and each returnee family would be assisted with two bags of fertilizers, 25 Kg of improved maize seeds and other inputs. He listed the benefitting communities to include those in southern Borno areas, Nafada and Funakai in Gombe as well as Maiha, Michika, and Madagali, among others in Adamawa. San Roman said that the programme was in collaboration with the state ministries of agriculture. He also said that the organisation provided 14 new hand pump boreholes and rehabilitated 42 dilapidated boreholes in the affected areas. “We equally assisted 250 households returnee IDPs with building materials, including cement, zinc roofing sheets and nails in Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa. “We are making effort to see how we can expand the project to reach additional communities in the state and beyond.” On healthcare, San Roman said that the organisation has provided drugs and other medical facilities to Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Yola Specialist Hospital and the General hospitals in Mubi and Michika.