The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Nigeria has distributed essential non-food items to 16,760 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kaura-Namoda and Zurmi local government areas as part of humanitarian service to Zamfara state
The distribution exercise which took place at Kaura Namoda town is part of the humanitarian service With support from European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) in collaboration with local partner Asattahir in the state.
Trucks loaded with assorted items arrived in Kaura Namoda, and a total of 4,190 households from Zurmi and Kaura Namoda Local Government Areas who were displaced received shelter repair kits, hygiene kits, and non-food items, including blankets, sleeping mats, jerry cans, and cooking tools in the state.
It was gathered that the majority of the benefiting households fled their homes as a result of increased violence in the Zurmi area and are now seeking safety in the Kaura-Namoda area of the state.
According to the advocacy coordinator in Nigeria, Tomas Kral the emergency response intervention is part of the Danish Refugee Council’s broader strategy to expand into Northwest Nigeria, following the degrading humanitarian situation and conflict-induced displacement across the area.
“Northwest Nigeria has been severely impacted by banditry, kidnapping, food insecurity, displacement, and extreme weather events, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis”.
The DRC advocacy coordinator in Nigeria highlighted that in 2023, DRC conducted comprehensive humanitarian needs and access assessments in Zamfara and Sokoto states, resulting in increased emergency response assistance to displaced populations across Tangaza in Sokoto South and Gusau Local Government Areas.
“Our latest distribution took place at the Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) in Kaura-Namoda town, and it was chosen as its central and secure location for Kaura-Namoda itself and Zurmi displaced persons seeking shelter in the area.”
The distribution was successful in the area With the support of the DRC and partner organisation Asattahir, we selected the most vulnerable households that were displaced in the area.
“The distribution was successfully rolled out in the presence of community leaders, members of the State Emergency Management Agency, and local authorities.”.
It was further highlighted that the Danish Refugee Council has had an operational presence in Nigeria since 2015 and has experience working in 33 local government areas (LGAs) across the BAY states in northeast Nigeria.
“DRC provides life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable, conflict-affected populations, including IDPs, returnees, and host communities, in the sectors of armed violence reduction, livelihoods, food security, protection, shelter and non-food items (NFI), and water sanitation and hygiene (WASH).”
“In 2024, the DRC expanded its operations through emergency response mechanisms into Zamfara and Sokoto states, addressing the increasing humanitarian needs of internally displaced populations in the states.
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