Over 910 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who fled from the North-East insurgency to Kaduna State received relief materials on Sunday in Kaduna.

The relief materials made up of food items, and clothing materials were distributed by ARRRIDA RELIEF Foundation Nigeria, ARFON, a Kaduna-based Non-Governmental Organization that carters for IDPs including disables, widows, children and men.

Rabi Salisu Ibrahim, Founder of ARFON, while presenting the items to IDPs at Maraban Jos IDP center, said distribution will also be made to centres at Kauta village, Rafin Guza, Hayin Danmani, Jere and Rijana centres.

She gave the breakdown of 910 beneficiaries in the various centres thus: Maraban Jos 120, Kauta village 270, Rafin Guza 270, Hayin Danmani 100, while Jere and Rijana have a total of 300 IDPs.

Mrs. Ibrahim lamented that due to lean resources, she could not reach out to similar camps at Rigasa, Barakallahu, Gadan Gayan who also need attention.

“Our major challenges are man power and lack of food and funds for the basic educational needs of these innocent kids. We are appealing to government to assist us with at least NYSC members that will teach and carter for the basic services in these camps,” she said.

She called on international donor agencies, government and corporate organisation as well as wealthy individuals to also assist by establishing Skills Acquisition Centres and a trauma center for the widows, children and other survivors of the insurgency.

“We are also appealing to government and well meaning corporate organisations and Nigerians generally, to come forward with food items, new or used clothes for these vulnerable people,” she said.

Mrs. Ibrahim added: “I have ejected tenants in another house in Maraban Jos which I also inherited from my mother. They used to generate over N1 million but I had to forfeit it as hostel for some of the IDPs who are sleeping in make shift tents under bridges of Maiduguri.”

While thanking NUJ, Kaduna Council and other Nigerians for their support, Mrs. Rabi called on government and Nigerians to inculcate the habit of visiting IDP camps to give a sense of belonging to many traumatised IDPs and to appreciate what God has given to them.

She said over 2,000 less privileged people made up of IDPs, orphans and physically challenged will be hosted to a breakfast on Thursday.

•Photo by Garba Ahmed shows the distribution of relief materials to IDPs in progress . . . yesterday in Kaduna.

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