Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Adamawa State may soon have some respite as the federal government has commenced massive distribution of relief supports through the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to residents of communities which were recently liberated by the military from insurgents.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, who was represented by the deputy governor of Adamawa State, Sa’ad Tahir, flagged off the distribution exercise in Mubi, noting that it was a follow-up to the recent assessment carried out by a presidential committee led by Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna, in the liberated communities.

According to the Vice President, the programme is aimed at supporting the returnees to gradually settle back to their homes.

“The programme of relief distribution would be continuous and in all communities affected by insurgency as part of the renewed efforts by the Federal Government to restore normalcy, rehabilitate the affected persons and reconstruct damaged infrastructure in the communities,” he said.

The relief support materials include food and non-food item like rice, maize, building materials, blankets and several other household items.

The Vice President reiterated the commitment of the federal government to strengthen security in areas through adequate support for the military deployed to ward-off the insurgents.

He disclosed that some of the strategies adopted by the government for the areas affected by the insurgency include proper equipping of security agencies, relief distribution to the affected persons through NEMA, setting up of the Presidential Initiative for the North East, the Safe School Initiative and the Victims Support Fund, among others.

The Emir of Mubi, Isa Ahmadu, who received the items on behalf of the returnees, appreciated the federal government for the prompt delivery of the supports to people.

Thanking the military for their gallantry in the continuous maintenance of security in the area, he said the liberation of the communities has seen the return of many residents back to their homes.

The director general of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, who was also present at the occasion, also disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan had also constituted a special team to undertake a comprehensive damage and loss assessment that will serve as a guide for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the communities as well as restoration of the means of livelihood of the people.

The NEMA boss also assured the continued commitment of NEMA to support people affected by disasters in the country including the displaced persons.