By Mohammed Isma’il
In commemoration of the World Day of migrants and refugees (WDMR), the Bishop of Yola Catholic diocese, Most Rev Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza has distributed food items to no fewer than 150 households affected by the Boko Haram insurgency at Salama housing estate, in Girei, LG of Adamawa State.
The WDMR is commemorated on 29 September to show love, to migrants , refugees and internally displaced persons and to proffer ways of offering humanitarian interventions to them.
Items donated to the 150 households include; Maize, Sugar, groundnut, garri and other assorted food items.
Mamza said the items were donated with support from Mission Take Heart in order to give succour to the displaced families considering the debilitating impact of flood and drought which the state witnessed in the course of this year’s rainy season.
He thanked Mission Take Heart for their support over the years adding that such support has brought succor to hundreds of families especially people displaced by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgency.
He urged the recipients of the gesture not to sell the items as they were meant to give them succor considering the negative portents of flood and drought which affected the fortunes of farmers.
He also enjoined them to be self dependent in view of the fact that they are no more considered as IDPs since they have been given accommodation and some incentives to begin a new life.
Mamza noted that in order to mitigate the menace of out-of-school children, the Yola Catholic Diocese has ensured that all children of residents of Salama housing are enrolled in schools as education is compulsory for children of all residents.
“There is no single child that is not in school in Salama housing estate as education is compulsory. The parents are so happy that their children are in schools. Even some of them are on scholarship, they are in boarding schools and they are doing very well.
And for those that are outside this estate, we are doing different things to support them. Recently, I distributed uniforms and school materials to them and we will continue to support the cause of education,” he said.
The Bishop who expressed optimism that Nigeria will one day overcome its challenges called on leaders and the led to come together and chart a new course for the country as no single person can proffer solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
“We are passing through difficulties the leaders and the led all contributed to the challenges. We need to come together and chart a new direction as no single person can have all the solutions. We cannot lose hope. Nigeria will be better tomorrow,” he said.
Thanking the Bishop for his untiring efforts in assisting the less privileged especially the residents of Salama housing estate, the spokesman of residents, Kakis Ignatius Vandu expressed unreserved gratitude to Mamza.
He noted that the Bishop has been with them since the eruption of the Boko Haram insurgency and has remained with them till now.
“The Bishop has been there for us. He accommodated IDPs for eight years in St Theresa before been evacuated to this permanent housing estate. This place was built by the Bishop and all IDPs are very happy and enjoying our lives. We thank God for the gift of Bishop.
“When we received information that the Bishop is coming we started dancing because we know something good is coming. This donation could not have come at a better time because many of us have no food to eat. And I assure the Bishop that the food will be utilized for the purpose of feeding our families,” he said.