NEDC intervenes in fighting food Insecurity, Malnutrition in Borno

By Bisola Adeyemo

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) Managing Director, Mohammed Alkali, lamented that more than 2.6 million people risk facing food crisis in Borno state.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director of the Commission, Mohammed Alkali, at a stakeholders’ meeting in Maiduguri on Saturday, adding that the commission has already taken action to respond to threats of food insecurity and malnutrition.

He said, “With the Cadre Harmonize report and what is being discussed with stakeholders, we’ll identify where the gaps are, what kind of food to be stockpiled.”

He, however, assured that the commission will be able to respond promptly to save people’s lives.

The Managing Director noted that there is a need for a coordinated approach by all actors in the humanitarianism and development cycle in responding to the needs of Boko Haram victims.

Also speaking, the NEDC Executive Director for Humanitarian Affairs, Musa Yashi said that the stakeholders and humanitarian partners’ meeting was to adopt and implement ways of streamlining the operations of all humanitarian activities.

In their contributions, representatives of State Emergency Management Agencies from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states and other partners stressed the need for a coordinated meeting to avert food insecurity and malnutrition, the Punch gathered.

They also urged the commission to intervene and provide shelter, livelihood support, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and healthcare to IDP camps and host communities.