Over 10m IDPs are victims of food insecurity, refugee commission declares

The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has disclosed that over 10 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country were battling with food insecurity.

Commissioner for Refugees, Imaan Sulaiman-ibrahim, who disclosed this yesterday in Keffi, Nasarawa State, at an event to launch the “Project Zero Hunger” maintained that the government, in collaboration with Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), has declared war against hunger and poverty in states across the nation.

Represented by the Director of Human Resources, Mohammed Bello, she stated that approximately 2.3 million internally displaced Nigerians and about 73,000 registered foreign refugees were facing food insecurity.

She noted that the “Project Zero Hunger” is aimed at catering for refugees, IDPs and other vulnerable groups in the country.

Sulaiman-ibrahim, who identified food security as a global challenge, explained that the project would help to streamline and enhance accessibility of food and non-food items to satisfy the immediate needs of the vulnerable.

In same vein, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, said the project would give stakeholders the opportunity to feed one person, “so that, collectively and in a sustainable manner, hunger will be eradicated.”

She said: “You are aware, ethnic and religious strife, internal conflicts, natural and man-made disasters have led to displacement, food insecurity in the North- East, North-West and in some parts of the South. These challenges contribute to Nigeria’s social, economic, political vulnerabilities and impacts negatively on national security, and disproportionately affects women, youths, IDPs, irregular migrants, refugees and aged people.

“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD), under the able leadership and support of President Muhammadu Buhari, has recently assented to the IDP Policy in Nigeria. This is to ensure, among others, protection, assistance and strategic provision of sustainable and durable solutions for persons of concern.

“It is in light of this that I am happy to note that Project Zero Hunger Initiative, which is a derivative of the Commission’s Strategic Partnership for resource mobilisation and eradication of hunger adopts the whole of society approach. This approach gives each one of us the opportunity to feed one person, so that collectively and in a sustainable manner, hunger will be eradicated. I am therefore pleased to be part of this laudable project.”

She added: “The Project Zero Hunger Initiative will fight food insecurity and stem the threat of famine in our land. The Project will additionally assuage the growing burden of hunger amongst persons of concern. This critical and practical initiative will also tackle the challenges of inconsistent and inadequate food supply to persons of concern. It will address their fundamental needs in terms of sustainable and timely provision of food and non-food items, whilst eliminating waste observed in previous distribution processes to persons of concern.

“I also commend the Honourable Federal Commissioner and her team for their efforts in developing this Project. I see that much has been done through partnerships with critical stakeholders for appropriate support to mobilise and deploy resources to provide a pedestal of success for the Project Zero Hunger Initiative.”