Boko Haram: France Backs UN Psychosocial Programmes for IDPs

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Wednesday, May 25th, 2016

By Eric Ojo, Abuja

The government of France has reaffirmed its commitment to the psychosocial support and access the justice project for the people affected by the spate of insurgency and terrorism in the North East region of Nigeria.

The French government pledged to fully support the project which is being implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations (UN) agency, with a view to alleviating the plight and trauma of the affected population in the North East.

The Embassy of France in Nigeria, according to a statement made available to African Examiner, is strongly committed to fight poverty and to assist the victims of the humanitarian crisis.

The statement added that the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, His Excellency Denys Gauer, met recently with the Head of delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mr Karl Anton Mattli, and the Country Director of Action Against Hunger (ACF), Mr Yannick Pouchalan, adding that an agreement was signed by both parties to work together.

“Under the food-aid programme 2016, an instrument of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support actions for food security and recovery of the means of production, the French Embassy in Nigeria decided to grant a financial support to the ICRC) and ACF for implementing two projects”, the statement added.

By doing so, France intends to contribute actively to the support to vulnerable populations affected by the crisis in the North East by helping them to get access to food and water. The ICRC and ACF will, according to the statement, receive 500.000 euros and 350.000 euros respectively to support their food projects in Nigeria.

It further explained that the ICRC’s food assistance and support for agricultural production is aimed at benefitting the civilian population in Borno State (Maiduguri and around Lake Chad) and Adamawa State.

Similarly, the ACF’s emergency food security and livelihood interventions are meant to support the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and crisis affected population, specifically those living in Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State.