Northern CAN distributes food items to 1,000 IDP households in Borno

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has distributed food items to 1,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) seeking refuge in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Items distributed to the vulnerable families include 25kg bags of rice, garri, Maize, beans, and other condiments like vegetable oil, salt, as well as seasoning cubes. Flagging up the distribution, Rev. John […]

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has distributed food items to 1,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) seeking refuge in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Items distributed to the vulnerable families include 25kg bags of rice, garri, Maize, beans, and other condiments like vegetable oil, salt, as well as seasoning cubes.

Flagging up the distribution, Rev. John Joseph Hayap, said the items were donated by the Barnabas AID-UK, to cushion the impact of economic hardship on victims, caused by crisis and violence in Borno State.

He said the exercise started in December, and covered five different states – Ondo, Kaduna, Benue and Plateau – , “and today we are in Borno to give this relief”.

Rev. Hayap said he had visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, where he saw an inhumane situation that the victims lived in.

“I saw more than what we have been reading on the front pages of newspapers. It’s sad that in this 21st century we have allowed citizens to suffer and live in this kind of very inhumane situation,” he said.

Hayap thanked Barnabas UKAid for bringing the support, while calling on the government and well-to-do in the society to do more.

He observed that apart from provision of food to the IDPs, security and hygiene of the environment they lived in should be paramount.

“We desire to see that insecurity is addressed and something is done about their well-being and welfare, because the camp they are living is not good for human beings at this time

“I saw little children, women and aged men suffering. I think it is not a good testimony for our country.

“I want to challenge the federal government to act, and act responsibly, these people have suffered too long.

“How can you allow someone in camp since 2014, some as far as 2012. It should not be, at least there should be a limit to the time they will live in camps.

“For today, we will only say, please accept what we have offered and use it for success. We hope that spirited individuals will come to do more so that these people will live a normal life.

“Their children need to continue their education and so many things need to be done to make these people come back to a good life,” he said.

Also, the secretary of the northern Christian Association Nigeria, thanked the chairman for the intervention, saying it will go a long way in alleviating the plight of the vulnerable families.