Kwara govt, UNICEF deliver relief materials to Yikpata IDP camp

The Kwara State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund, has delivered relief and sanitation materials to the Internally Displaced Persons camp in Yikpata to support residents affected by recent security challenges in the area.

The intervention materials, which included Water, Sanitation and Hygiene items alongside other relief supplies, were handed over to the camp management for distribution to displaced persons currently taking refuge at the facility.

Officials of the Kwara State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency led the delivery exercise and formally presented the items to the Camp Commandant, Captain Umar Adamu.

The camp is currently sheltering more than 1,000 displaced persons, including about 800 children, 500 women and 165 men.

Speaking during the visit, the General Manager of RUWASSA, Mr. Olorunfemi Adewumi Oladipo, represented by the Head of Department, Sanitation and Hygiene, Mr. Abdulazeez Olalekan Rufai, commended the Kwara State Government and UNICEF for their continued support for vulnerable residents displaced by insecurity.

He said the intervention reflected the strong partnership between the state government and development partners in addressing humanitarian needs across affected communities.

According to him, the materials would help improve hygiene conditions within the camp and provide relief for families facing difficult circumstances.

He assured displaced residents that the government and its partners would continue to provide necessary support aimed at ensuring their safety, dignity and wellbeing while efforts continue to restore normalcy to their communities.

Rufai also noted that RUWASSA would sustain hygiene awareness campaigns and sanitation interventions within the camp to prevent disease outbreaks and maintain a healthy environment.
He urged residents to make proper use of the items provided, stressing the importance of hygiene and sanitation in humanitarian settings.

Receiving the materials on behalf of the camp, Captain Umar Adamu appreciated the Kwara State Government and UNICEF for what he described as timely intervention for displaced residents.

He assured that the materials would be distributed fairly and transparently among beneficiaries in the camp.

Also speaking, a representative of the displaced persons, Mr. Bello Abubakar, popularly known as the camp teacher, expressed gratitude to the government and UNICEF for the support extended to displaced families.

He said the intervention had brought relief and renewed hope to many residents, particularly women and children who continue to face the realities of displacement.

The intervention forms part of ongoing humanitarian efforts by the Kwara State Government and its development partners to improve living conditions and provide support for internally displaced persons across affected communities in the state.