INGOs engage journalists to improve humanitarian response in North East Nigeria.
Gloria Abutu
Climate change, violent conflict and underdevelopment have been identified as major causes of food insecurity in North East Nigeria.
Speakers at a two-day Media Workshop gave the indication during the programme organized by the Nigeria International Non Governmental Organizations INGO Forum, NIF in Abuja, with the theme, ‘Building Resilience and Ensuring Sustainability in Humanitarian Response in North East Nigeria’.
Representative of Christian Aid, Danladi Mamza said food insecurity in the North East region was alarming, adding that about three million people in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states are currently food insecure.
On her part, Seember Oteer of Action Against Hunger noted that flooding, diseases and unfavorable economic policies have led to malnutrition and called on relevant stakeholders including journalists to work with humanitarian agencies through advocacy and sensitization to serve vulnerable communities better.
Earlier in a remark, acting Chair of the Nigeria INGO Forum Steering Committee, Margaret McLoughlin pointed out that INGOs partner communities across Nigeria to among other things, help them rebuild their lives and livelihoods during and after conflict, violence and natural disasters.
She expressed hope that journalists will gain better insights into the work of INGOs and sought collaboration for accurate reporting on humanitarian issues in the region.
A veteran journalist, Mrs Rafat Salami of the Voice of Nigeria, VON while sharing her experiences, charged journalists to adhere to the principles of ethical, data driven, solution and evidence based reporting to address the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Participants who were drawn from Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, pledged greater engagement with INGOs to improve humanitarian response in the North East region.
