By Sarah Eze
The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has commenced the distribution of 4,000 food baskets donated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) to vulnerable households in Anambra State.
The programme is part of a nationwide humanitarian intervention targeting 24,302 beneficiaries.
Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, who flagged off the programme in Awka, said the donation underscores the enduring partnership between NEMA and KSrelief in delivering humanitarian assistance to vulnerable Nigerians.
Represented by the Director of NEMA’s South-East Zone, Mr. Walson Brandon, Umar said the allocation to Anambra forms part of the 24,302 food baskets donated by the Saudi humanitarian agency for distribution to beneficiaries in Anambra, Yobe, Taraba, Benue and other selected states.
She said the intervention would provide relief to families affected by displacement, insecurity, disasters and the prevailing economic hardship, noting that KSrelief has consistently partnered with NEMA to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency response through humanitarian support and technical assistance.
The NEMA Director-General said previous interventions by the Saudi-based organisation had complemented the efforts of the Federal Government and state governments in assisting internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups across the country.
Umar assured that the distribution exercise would be conducted in line with KSrelief’s operational and accountability standards to ensure transparency, fairness and effective delivery to intended beneficiaries.
She added that officials of NEMA, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and accredited volunteers would jointly supervise the exercise.
She also urged residents of flood-prone communities to take preventive measures by clearing drainage channels, avoiding indiscriminate dumping of refuse in waterways and complying with early warning advisories to minimise the impact of flooding during the rainy season.
Umar expressed appreciation to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Government of Saudi Arabia and KSrelief for their continued support to Nigeria.
In a goodwill message, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, commended KSrelief and NEMA for extending the intervention to Anambra State.
He thanked NEMA for facilitating the programme and urged beneficiaries to make proper use of the food items, warning against diverting or selling the relief materials.
Earlier, the Deputy Director of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mrs. Omega Ndidi, described the intervention as timely, saying the 4,000 food baskets, each weighing 59.8 kilograms and containing rice, beans, vegetable oil, tomato paste, salt, seasoning cubes and other essential food items, would be distributed across Awka South, Awka North, Awka West, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Ogbaru, Orumba North and Nnewi South Local Government Areas.
She said SEMA, in collaboration with NEMA, had carefully enumerated beneficiaries to ensure transparency, fairness and accountability throughout the distribution process, while appreciating Governor Soludo, the Federal Government and KSrelief for the humanitarian gesture.
Also speaking, NEMA’s Deputy Director, Special Duties Department, Mrs. Ojo Bolanle, cautioned beneficiaries against diverting or selling the relief materials, stressing that they were strictly meant for household consumption.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Solomon Udeh and Mrs. Amaka Ebo expressed gratitude to KSrelief, NEMA and the Federal Government for the assistance, describing it as timely amid the prevailing economic hardship.
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