By Auwal Mohammad,
Gombe (Nigeria) — As part of efforts to curb the diversion of relief materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by insurgency in northeast Nigeria, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it has begun the door-door distribution of relief materials in the region.Director General of the agency, Mustapha Yinusa Maihaji revealed this Monday, while declaring open a four-day workshop on sexual and gender based violence, organised by the Agency in collaboration with UN-Women holding in Gombe Northeast Nigeria.
The Director General who was represented by Deputy Director in the agency Saidu Mini, said the measure became necessary to halt the outright diversion of relief materials, stressing that the agency officials now go door to door to deliver relief materials to the IDPs in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He said that the recent Displacement Tracking Matrix produced by the IOM in collaboration with NEMA, showed that there are currently 1.7 m internally displaced persons in the northeast, out of which 54 percent are women.
Mr. Maihaji stated that in every emergency situation, women and children are often the worst affected and majority of survivors.
“Sexual gender-based violence are usually perpetrated by persons who are meant to protect IDPs in camps or non-camps locations, including government officials, security agencies and other humanitarian actors,” NEMA boss said.
Also speaking the Gender Technical Adviser of the UN-Women in the state who represented the Country Director Rhoda Dia Zira said that considering the women and children has the high percent of victims in the insurgency the need to cater for women and children in emergencies cannot be over emphasized.
Mrs Dia Zira, Technical Adviser on Gender for the UN Women in Gombe,urged participants to use the knowledge to be gained during the workshop and to put it to practice to bring about the desired change.
In his remark Head of Operations NEMA in Gombe state, Abbani Imam Garki, stated that violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world.
He commended the organisers of the workshop, the UN Women and NEMA, saying there is the need to address gender based violence in humanitarian situations.
