The Federal Government has donated 3,543.37 metric tonnes of grains to Bauchi state government for distribution to vulnerable persons in the state.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouk, who made the presentation on Saturday, said the gesture was to serve as palliatives for the cushioning of the harsh effect of COVID-19 pandemic.
She said that the intervention would also reduce the sufferings people were passing through in the society as a result of the lockdown to contain the spread of the Coronavirus.
Umar-Farouk conveyed the sympathy of the Federal Government to the government and people of Bauchi state over the recent flood and windstorms that occurred in parts of the state.
She explained further that the assorted grains from the National Food Reserve was approved as a palliative for distribution to vulnerable persons affected by the recent restriction of movement to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is sad that these have resulted in the loss of lives, damage to property, destruction of livelihoods and farmlands.
“Preliminary report on the incidents indicate the need for relief intervention and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been activated to assess the situation and provide necessary support to the affected persons to cushion the effects of the disaster.
“We all know that the outbreak of the pandemic has brought about changes and challenges to our normal ways of living.
“Most obvious of this is on the vulnerable persons that depend largely on others for their daily survival.
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“Such persons are the aged, people living with disabilities and persons of concerns, that deserve support in terms of basic necessities, including food,” Farouk said
She said the items were meant to cater for 70,867 households in the state
In his remarks, Gov. Bala Mohammmed, represented by his Deputy, Alh. Baba Tela. thanked the Federal Government for the gesture, saying the palliatives would go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the vulnerable in the state.
He pledged fair distribution of the food items to those who deserve them.
