Yobe Govt. laments Poor Response of Humanitarian Agencies in Reconstruction, Resettlement
The Yobe Government on Tuesday lamented the poor response by humanitarian agencies in the resettlement and reconstruction of public structures destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.
Alhaji Abubakar Ali, the state Deputy Governor and Chairman, Committee on Resettlement, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), stated this when a delegation of the United Nations office in Nigeria led by Mr Christpen Rukasha, paid him a courtesy visit in Damaturu.
Ali said government had compiled a document with details of all public and private structures destroyed by the insurgents across the state.
“As most of the IDPs have returned to their communities, we had expected the humanitarian partners to liaise with government to pick areas of intervention to facilitate the reconstruction process.
“Although most of the IDPs have returned home, the health institutions, schools, private and other public structures destroyed by the insurgents have yet to be reconstructed.
“We see some of these organisations expending huge resources on hiring of houses, vehicles and personnel.
“These resources can be injected directly into reconstruction to improve the lives of the returnees, rather than expending them on logistics,” he said.
The deputy governor also called for improved synergy between the state government and the humanitarian partners to identify and channel all interventions more effectively in most needed areas.
Rukasha told the deputy governor that the team was in the state to explore means of improving partnership in handling humanitarian crisis in the state and the North-East.
“The UN humanitarian aid and development plan will provide 10.5 million dollars support to the recovery programme in the North-East.
“The UN Humanitarian office will play a supportive role, while government plays the lead role in providing humanitarian development support to the returnees,’’ he said.
Rukasha assured that the UN humanitarian office would liaise with Yobe Government on areas of intervention and promote transparency. (NAN)
