From Augustine Okezie, Katsina
The Katsina State government has budgeted N22m to fund relief items to be distributed to IDPs from Tsauwa and Dankar Villages in Batsari LGA affected by banditry attacks which led to the loss of about 30 lives
The Public Relations Officer of SEMA, Alhaji Umar Mohammed, yesterday told The Nation in an exclusive interview that already N10m has been released for the first phase of the distribution exercise carried out by his agency in conjunction with the Red Cross and local government personnel, adding that they were awaiting the remaining budgeted fund of N12m to conclude the exercise.
He said the exercise included rehabilitation of burnt houses and other infrastructure in the area to ensure quick return to normal lives, adding that all the parties are set to commence the next phase of the distribution of relief materials as promised by Governor Aminu Bello Masari.
Also speaking during a chat with The Nation on the issue, the Katsina State branch Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Bala Husain, confirmed the partnership with SEMA in the distribution of relief materials to the victims of banditry attacks in Tsauwa and Dankar villages in Batsari Local Government Area.
Husain said, “the two agencies have been working in collaboration over the years on humanitarian efforts especially in attending to displaced victims in the state.
“What SEMA does is to call on all the line agencies, both government and non-governmental organisations, whenever the issue of this type happened. We normally come together to discuss plans on how to go about it before the distribution.”
