The Yobe State government in collaboration with development partners have organized a five-day workshop with a view to itemizing and domesticating the National Policy on the Internally Displays Persons (IDPs).
The occasion attended by development partners such as World Bank, UNDP, UNHCR, IOM, UNOCHA, NEMA, NEDC, Civil Society Organizations, security agencies as well as the representative of the IPDs communities was declared open by the state governor Mai Mala Buni at the Tahir Guest in Kano.
Buni while declaring the workshop opened expressed happiness that Yobe is the first state taking the strategic step of addressing the complex challenges of displacement in line and respond to the UN Secretary General’s action agenda on solutions to internal displacement in the country.
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali, said his administration has in the last five years make concerted efforts that translated into a very successful reconstruction, rehabilitation, and establishment of new structures geared towards revamping the education and improve healthcare delivery and other infrastructures such as roads, water, and electricity supply among others to make life more meaningful to the returnee and the host communities.
“This administration appreciates the various efforts and commitments of donors and development partners especially the Federal Government agencies, The World Bank, UN agencies and other development and humanitarian partners in filling the gaps of developmental challenges and complementing state government efforts to meet the needs of the affected communities.
“As a government, we have continued to initiate various policies and programmes geared towards short-, medium-, and long-term stabilization and development of communities in post-conflict recovery programmes.
“This administration has continued to sustain government support to the most affected communities to have access to basic lifesaving assistance, including food and non-food items, clean water, healthcare, education, and sanitation,” the governor stated.
In his welcome remark, the executive secretary of Yobe State Emergency management Agency (SEMA), Dr Mohammed Goje, stressed that the domestication of the policy remain key as it will enhance partnerships with security agencies, international organizations, and other stakeholders in alleviating the suffering of IDPs and rebuilding communities.
The Yobe State SOLID Project Coordinator, Suleiman Dauda,while highlighting the objectives of the workshop reiterated SOLID project to providing durable solutions for IDPs through coordinated partnerships and institutionalized implementation through state MDAs and jointly with other partners in the state.
