NEMA, Saudi-based agency distribute food to Anambra residents

The National Emergency Management Agency has commenced the distribution of 4,000 food baskets to vulnerable households in Anambra State under a nationwide humanitarian intervention targeting 24,302 beneficiaries.

The exercise is carried out in conjunction with a Saudi Arabian agency, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), which donated the items.

Flagging off the exercise in Awka over the weekend, the Director-General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, said the donation underscores the enduring partnership between NEMA and KSrelief in delivering humanitarian assistance to vulnerable Nigerians.

Represented by the Director of NEMA’s South-East Zone, Mr Walson Brandon, Umar said the allocation to Anambra forms part of the 24,302 food baskets donated by the Saudi humanitarian agency for distribution to beneficiaries in Anambra, Yobe, Taraba, Benue and other selected states.

She said, “The intervention will provide relief to families affected by displacement, insecurity, disasters and the prevailing economic hardship. KSrelief has consistently partnered NEMA to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency response through humanitarian support and technical assistance.

“Previous interventions by the Saudi-based organisation had complemented the efforts of the Federal Government and state governments in assisting internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups across the country.

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“The distribution exercise would be conducted in line with KSrelief’s operational and accountability standards to ensure transparency, fairness and effective delivery to intended beneficiaries.”

She added that officials of NEMA, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency and accredited volunteers would jointly supervise the exercise.

She commended President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to addressing humanitarian challenges and improving the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians. She also expressed appreciation to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Government of Saudi Arabia and KSrelief for their continued support to Nigeria.

In a goodwill message, the Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chiamaka Nnake, commended KSrelief and NEMA for extending the intervention to Anambra State.

Earlier, the Deputy Director of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Omega Ndidi, described the intervention as timely, saying the 4,000 food baskets, each weighing 59.8 kilogrammes and containing rice, beans, vegetable oil, tomato paste, salt, seasoning cubes and other essential food items, would be distributed across Awka South, Awka North, Awka West, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Ogbaru, Orumba North and Nnewi South Local Government Areas.

Ndidi said SEMA, in collaboration with NEMA, had enumerated the beneficiaries to ensure transparency, fairness and accountability throughout the distribution process.