Boko Haram: Japan to offer $1.45m assistance to displaced women, children

The Japanese Government on Monday said it would support a humanitarian response project with $1.45 million toward assisting internally displaced women and children in Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe States.
Information about the assistance was contained in a statement issued by John Nwankwo, the Senior Assistant/Advisor on General Affairs, Information and Culture of the Japanese Embassy in Abuja.
Nwankwo stated that the project, tagged: “Emergency Assistance to Internally Displaced Women/Girls and Survivors of Boko Haram Terrorism Attacks in Nigeria,” was in partnership with the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
According to him, the project is a one-year initiative spanning 2016-2017, targetting selected areas in Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe States.
He said the aim of the project was to strengthen emergency assistance initiatives to Internally Displaced Persons, especially women and girls and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in the target areas.
It was also aimed at improving the economic capacity and social rehabilitation of women affected by crisis for peaceful cohabitation in target areas.
“The project is further targeted at strengthening humanitarian coordination mechanisms for a more comprehensive and gender-responsive approach in Nigeria,” the Embassy official stated.
Nwankwo said the project would be implemented by UN Women in partnership with relevant government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, civil society organisations and other development agencies.
He added that the humanitarian response project would complement an ongoing Women Peace and Security Programme in Northern Nigeria, being implemented by UN Women and other partners.
It would also enhance collaborative interventions between the governments of Japan and Nigeria.
He noted: “Gender mainstreaming in humanitarian response is undoubtedly central to an inclusive, effective, efficient and sustainable support and recovery programme for IDPs in Nigeria.
“The management of UN Women and the Government of Japan and Nigeria remain committed to this course for attainment of sustainable peace and development in Nigeria.”
NAN.