…But decries lack of “a workable humanitarian intervention structure” to address the need.
by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Plateau State Government has assured the United Nations Office of The Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and other humanitarian response agencies of its collaboration to ensure quick response to distressed people in the state.
The State Deputy Governor, Josephine Piyo, gave the assurance, while receiving the United Nations delegation on behalf of the State Governor, Barr Caleb Mutfwang, in Jos on Wednesday.
She assured the delegation that the state is ready to offer support in form of logistics and any kind support they may need to ensure that distressed citizens get the required assistance in times of natural disasters and conflicts.
She thanked the delegation for the visit, saying that it would be of immense benefit for the state to receive rapid humanitarian response in times of need, especially as the state struggles with a high record of internally-displaced persons, who are eager to return to their ancestral homes.
Speaking earlier, leader of the delegation, Mr Ibrahim Bari, said, the delegation was in the state to assess what was on ground after the Plateau State Emergency Monitoring Agency (PLASEMA) approached their office for humanitarian intervention in the state.
He said the office raises awareness and understanding of people’s needs through annual Global Humanitarian Overview and mobilises funding and resources to ensure those needs are met.
According to him, the office also campaigns for the rights of people affected by humanitarian crises, amplify their voices and ensure the humanitarian system is accountable to them, advocate at the highest levels for effective and principled humanitarian action by all and for all.
Also, the State Director of PLASEMA, Mr Chuwang Sha, regretted that the state did not have a workable humanitarian intervention plan or structure that could address immediate humanitarian needs.
He, however, applauded the new government for prioritizing the humanitarian needs of the citizens, especially as the state is faced with problems that need intervention.
