Saudi King Donates Food to 8,000 IDPs in Borno

By Adedapo Adesanya

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced the second phase of food distribution from items donated by King Salman of Saudi Arabia through his Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) for 8,000 households of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in four camps and host communities in Borno State.

This was disclosed by the Director-General of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Habib Ahmed, at the flag-off of the distribution in Maiduguri on Thursday. He explained that at the conclusion of the second phase of the distribution, about 16,000 IDPs in Borno State would have benefitted from the food donation by KSrelief.

Business Post understands that the first phase of the food distribution was done in December 2022.

He said the distribution would be carried out in four camps in Muna Kumburi, Gongulon, Madinatu I, and Madinatu II. These, according to him, were in addition to the earlier distribution in December 2022, during which about 8,000 households benefitted in five camps at El-Miskin, Doro, Ashiri, Shuwarin, and Nganzai.

Represented by the Director of Planning Research and Forecasting, Mrs Fatima Suleiman Kasim, he said each of the households is expected to have 59.8 kilograms food basket, made up of 25kg of rice, 25kg of beans, 4kg of Masa vita flour 2kg of tomato paste, litres of groundnut oil, 1kg of salt and 0. 8kg of seasoning cubes.

While appreciating the King of Saudi Arabia, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mr Mohammad Bin Salman, for the donation delivered through KS relief, the NEMA DG said the gesture would go a long way to benefit the IDPs and complement the efforts of the Federal Government.

He said, “Our partnership with KSrelief dates back to 2018. Between 2018 and 2021, the Centre donated relief items (food baskets) to some Internally Displaced persons in Borno, Yobe, and Zamfara States.

“KSrelief has been very benevolent to the Country. Interventions have been beneficial, as evidenced by the positive testimonies from the IDPs.”