Borno Commends USAID Over Financial Donations To N’East IDPs

THE $10.5 million (N2.08 billion) aid donated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to Boko Haram insurgency-ravaged North East states in the country has been described as a “timely intervention” in managing humanitarian crises to save many lives.

Chairman of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (BOSEMA), Alhaji Grema Terab, who reacted yesterday to the USAID donation to Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, said the financial aid should attract more supports from donor agencies.

“The U.S. government has done very well and this has given the opportunity to other well-meaning countries all over the world to come to the aid of Nigeria and Borno State in particular,” Terab said.

He said Borno was the worst hit among the three northeast states affected by Boko Haram insurgency, adding that over 20 local governments were sacked and severally attacked by the insurgents while more than 125, 000 people have been displaced.

He said the state was managing over 125, 000 displaced persons in 22 IDPs camps in Maiduguri metropolis. He said he had always called on the attention of the international community to the emerging and challenging humanitarian crisis in Borno and other affected states.

“I was elated with U.S. listening to our calls through BOSEMA for international development by committing $10.5 million (N2.08 billion) to the three North East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

“We had many times appealed to the international community and donoragencies to come and assist Borno in particular and we are glad the

USAID has listened to our cries and have decided to come around,” Terab said.

He noted that the financial donation would go a long way in addressing the challenges of the IDPs and rebuilding communities destroyed by Boko Haram.