The items donated to 1,000 individuals (from 460 households) include: 1 bag of rice, 5kg bag of sugar, 5 litres of groundnut oil, 4 sachets of salt, 4 packets of macaroni, 1 sachet of maggi and 6 yards of wrapper.
Speaking at the event, while handing over the palliatives to the beneficiaries on Saturday, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, assured the PLWDs of the ministries' commitment in bringing relief to their community, even as she appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for attending to their need.
She said: "We have chosen to commence this flag–off here, because Karamajiji represents one of the more organised and recognised communities of Person’s Living With Disabilities; in response to the COVID -19 lockdown. According to World Bank estimates, this group makes up 15 per cent of the Nigerian population.
"They represent one of the most vulnerable groups in our communities and they are especially so in moments of crisis as this. That is why we have always emphasised that palliative measures and social safety intervention are activated, especially during this COVID -19 pandemic, must prioritise their welfare’’.
Accepting the palliatives on behalf of the Chief of Karamajiji disabled community, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammed Katsina, his Secretary, Mohammed Dantani, commended the effort of the Minister in catering for needs of the disabled in this period of the COVID -19 pandemic, but requested for the provision of decent accommodation for the members of the community.
"We are living in batchers here. We are pleading with the government, especially for the Minister, to beg the FCT Minister to give us a permanent place for settlement. We are not settled here as we receive constant threats of demolition. As a result, we can't build our own houses," he said.
Nice one
ReplyDelete