The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouk, has began the Psycho-Social Support and Empowerment training for a section of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Taraba on Monday.
The minister was represented by the Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr Peter Audu.
He said that Nigeria as of January 2020, had a total of 2.5 milliion IDPs due to violence and conflicts.
He added that the figure was out of the world’s over 40 million displaced persons.
According to her, the displacement had its attendant effects that would leave the victims or affected persons traumatised, families separated, communities destroyed, and basic infrastructure damaged.
As you may also be aware, the basic social and economic activities in the various communities have been disrupted, making the need for humanitarian action inevitable.In the last few years, displacements have occurred in various parts of the country, coming along with its trademark of trauma and other social issues that also has a lot of impact on the mental health of the affected persons.The aim of this programme is to return the affected persons to their normal and familiar routines that engage their mental abilities to the understanding that life is gradually normalising with a view to being empowered economically.
Farouk said this would also help in meeting their family needs as they exited the camp.
Also, it will provide opportunities for the displaced population to take care of their own livelihood that would contribute to enhancing their well being and help ease the stress they are experiencing.It will be appropriate to mention here that this programme is targeted at 50 IDPs in Taraba state who are drawn across the effected Local Government Areas in the state.They will be trained in marketable skills such as tailoring, soap making, fish farming, cosmetology and bead making or any other marketable skill within your locality, Farouk said.
The minister repeated that the ministry would ensure that the strategic objectives of all the social intervention programmes in the country were achieved.
The head of administration, Taraba State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Yusuf Ubandoma, lauded the minister for the initiative and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
It is important that you are empowered because that is the only way you can stand your ground and weather the challenges that will come your way. Disaster is a natural phenomenon that can not be predicted.What matters is how we manage it. Take whatever you are taught here seriously. There are several other displaced persons but only the few of you are chosen. Do not take this opportunity for granted, he said.