Japan Donates N154m to Boko Haram Victims
The Japanese government, through its embassy in Nigeria, has donated $770,000 (about N154 million) to the Nigerian Red Cross Society for the rehabilitation of Boko Haram victims in the north-east of the country.
The Nigerian Red Cross will implement programmes, which would focus largely on enabling healthy and safe living for affected families, targeting vulnerable women, children and the elderly in Adamawa, Borno and Bauchi States.
Daily Times gathered that the activities would mainstream gender- related issues, psycho-social support, community health, livelihoods, shelter and relief. Since 2013, more than 600,000 people have been displaced due to violence in the northeast region. An estimated 60,000 have fled, searching for safety in neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroun and Niger.
It was gathered that people were in urgent need of shelter, potable water and sanitation, food, household supplies, livelihood support and psycho-social support.
“The Government of Japan is seriously concerned about the tremendous damages caused by insurgents in Nigeria and the negative impact it is having in neighbouring countries,” said the Japanese Embassy in Nigeria, adding that: “We have, therefore, decided to extend humanitarian support to internally displaced persons, through the Nigerian Red Cross.
“These activities will contribute to the reduction of suffering, and risks for development of severe trauma of those who have lost their family members and friends, it would promote social and economic livelihoods, and mobilise community strengths,” said Bello Hamman Diram, Secretary General, Nigerian Red Cross Society.
