Borno: FAO distributes nutrition food, cooking stoves to flood-affected IDPs

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), North- east office in Maiduguri, Monday, flagged off the distribution of 12kg sachets of Tom Brown locally produced supplementary food, locally produced  charcoal cooking  stoves, and 25 kg  bags at Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital in Shokari community,  off Mafa-Dikwa road,  Maiduguri  to 1,000 children suffering from malnutrition in Maiduguri and Jere local governments.

While flagging off the programme, the head of FAO, Dr. Daouda Doumbia, said the programme was aimed at complementing the  existing nutrition programmes in Borno state  by  way of addressing critical food security needs in both  the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and flood-affected communities.

“The FAO will distribute the essential relief materials to flood-affected communities in Borno state, following the devastating floods of 9 September 2024.

“These floods affected thousands of households and caused significant damage to crop lands across the region which informed the launching of the program. It is to enhance the nutritional statutes of the households, reduce the risk of environmental degradation and promote safer cooking practices.

“Today’s distribution will focus on 1,000 households in Jere local government area as part of FAO’s continued efforts to support vulnerable populations affected by natural disasters and enhance food security.

“This initiative is a key component of FAO’s broader response to the ongoing flooding crisis in North-east Nigeria,” Daouda said.

He added that through the provision of Tom Brown, a locally sourced supplementary food for children with malnutrition, Safe Access to Fuel and Energy kits (SAFE kits) and animal health services, will achieve success in addressing malnutrition from the flood disaster in the state.