..As UNDP Team Visits The Area
The United Nations Development Programme UNDP has pledged support for internally displaced persons IDPs in Ketare District, Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State acknowledging the significant challenges they face.
The pledge was made during a courtesy visit by the UNDP team, led by its Abuja representative, Mr. Adewale, to the palace of the Kanwan Katsina and District Head of Ketare, Alhaji Usman Bello Kankara.
Speaking during the visit, Mr. Adewale said the purpose was to understand the plight of the IDPs and discuss ways to provide targeted solutions.
Mr. Adewale ( standing) explaining purpose of the visit to the District Head
Mr. Adewale commended the Kanwan Katsina for his guidance and promised to submit a detailed report to the UNDP’s Abuja office for further action.
Earlier in his remarks, the Kanwan Katsina, Alhaji Usman Bello Kankara who welcomed the UNDP team, expressed gratitude for the timely visit. The traditional ruler highlighted the devastating impact of insecurity on key sectors, including education, health, and agriculture noting that the bandits’ activities have forced families to leave thier homes to seek shelter elsewhere rendering children out of school, resulting to overcrowding of health facilities and educational institutions.
Similarly, the agricultural activities from the area are greatly affected as many farmers have been forced off their lands by bandits, with some left behind being exploited as laborers on these farms.
The traditional Ruler further requested the UNDP to implement empowerment programs, skills acquisition training, reconstruction of homes, provision of potable drinking water, and the construction of feeder roads to boost infrastructure and enhance transportation in the area.
Alhaji Usman Bello urged the UNDP to outline plans to support IDPs with resources to engage in small-scale businesses, such as masa, kuli-kuli, and awara production, to improve their economic status.
Representative of the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Katsina State Governor on IDPs Alhaji Sanusi Mahuta, thanked the UNDP team for their visit, describing it as a crucial step towards addressing the needs of the IDPs and thank the Kanwan KATSINA for the warm reception.
This visit underscores the joint efforts of the UNDP and the Katsina State Government to provide sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by internally displaced persons in the region.
