Turkey pledges support for Boko Haram victims

 BY OKECHUKWU NNODIM, ABUJA

The Government of Turkey has offered to support the ongoing humanitarian intervention in communities affected by security challenges through partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency.

A statement from NEMA on Sunday said the support was aimed at bringing more succour to the displaced persons in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Mustafa Pulat, according to the statement, disclosed this during his visit to the headquarters of NEMA in Abuja.

He said a delegation from his country would soon be in Nigeria towards the actualisation of the kind gesture.

Pulat requested the partnership of NEMA with the Turkish authorities to identify the priority areas of the humanitarian needs to assist the affected communities, especially to support the displaced persons.

The ambassador acknowledged the efforts of the Federal Government at addressing both the security challenge as well as providing succour to the affected communities, noting that the offer of support by Turkey was in the spirit of international solidarity with the government and people of Nigeria.

The Director-General, NEMA, Mr. Sani Sidi, appreciated the offer from the Turkish Government and promised to convey the message to the appropriate authorities.

He said from inception of the security challenge to date, the Federal Government through the NEMA had continued to provide relief assistance to the affected communities.

Sidi also said the offer of support from the Government of Turkey as well as the other international bodies would further relief the affected communities and persons and quicken their recovery.

Citing the recent humanitarian assessment jointly carried out by NEMA with agencies of the United Nations, he said though some of the displaced persons were living in camps, adding that most of them were found to be living with relations and friends in various host communities.