President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja called on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international aid agencies to complement the Federal Government’s efforts to increase humanitarian assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country.
Speaking while receiving the Greek Medical Charity organisation, also known as “Heart Doctors’’, at the State House, President Buhari said the Nigerian government was working hard to secure and rehabilitate communities ravaged by Boko Haram insurgents.
“It is a pathetic situation we have. There are more than two million internally displaced persons, 70 percent of whom are women and children. Of these, 60 percent are orphaned children. We are willing to work with organisations such as yours to quickly rehabilitate infrastructure, rebuild schools, medical clinics and destroyed homes,’’ the President said.
Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), in a statement, quoted Buhari as telling the visiting medical charity team that the task of rehabilitating IDPs in the region was enormous, but with perseverance and commensurate resources such challenges are surmountable.
He thanked the Greek doctors for their humanitarian activities in the country and assured that his administration would welcome other spirited individuals and organisations with similar intentions.
The leader of the Greek Medical Charity organization, Prof. Xenofan Yataganas, told the President that the organisation which commenced humanitarian work in Nigeria since 2002 has been involved in rebuilding schools and distributing medicines and food at IDP camps.
