US Government Pledges Support for 275 Rescued Women, Children

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, has expressed concern over the 275 women and children rescued frown the Boko Haram onslaught from the dreaded Sambisa forest and promised that the American government will support them until they are fully rehabilitated.

The ambassador who was at the Malkohi camp in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, where the rescued victims are taking refuge, shortly after going round to assess the living condition of victims, said he lacked words to describe what they had gone through in the hands of the Boko Haram insurgents.

Entwistle told journalists that his government was going to support the victims through the UN, UNICEF and other organisations to make sure that before the victims return to their homes they are fully rehabilitated.

He expressed gratitude to Nigerians for the zeal and passion which they have shown to render assistance to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and commended government and NEMA for doing its best to provide food, accommodation and clothing for the victims.

Entwistle said the American and Nigerian governments have come a long way and will continue to collaborate to assist each other, adding that it was out of concern that he came from Abuja to see the victims.

In another development, the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani Sidi and United Nation Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Daouda Toure, assured the 275 rescued women and children of social, psychological and health supports before they are reintegrated with their families.

In a press statement signed and issued by the Information Officer, Sani Dati, the duo made the pledge at the weekend when they interacted with IDPs at Malkohi Camp, Yola.

According to the statement, the DG had directed that a mobile clinic be deployed for medical screening, to identify those who need treatment, while the agency in collaboration with UN agencies had mobilised a team of experts in psycho trauma counselling and medical doctors to provide all the necessary medical care to the rescued.

He said most of the rescued children are severely malnourished and have eye infections. He noted that there were about 63 unaccompanied children and six pregnant women only among the rescued persons.It also stated that the UN resident coordinator, Daouda Taure, told the rescued women and children that the world and their families have missed them but that the UN agencies would support the Nigerian government in providing their needs to facilitate their reintegration with their communities.

He said the UN had directed all its relevant agencies to provide all the needed assistance and support for them.

“Infant feeding, children’s clothes, diapers and sanitation items have also been provided for 21 nursing mothers,” the statement noted.