By AMINU DALHATU; Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
The Zamfara State Government says it has provided humanitarian support and assistance worth more than N7.33 billion to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable communities across the State over the past three years.
The Commissioner for Humanitarian and Relief Matters, Alhaji Salisu Musa Tsafe, disclosed this in Gusau during the commemoration of the 2026 World Humanitarian Day.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ummulkhairi Abubakar Usman, said the interventions were implemented through partnerships and collaborations with relevant Federal Government ministries and agencies, international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) and local NGOs.
He said the assistance included the provision and distribution of food items, building materials, solar-powered boreholes, livelihood and empowerment support, agricultural inputs, nutritional assistance, drugs, cholera kits, multipurpose cash assistance, educational materials and clothing.
According to him, the interventions were designed to address the humanitarian needs of IDPs and other vulnerable persons affected by crises across the State.
Tsafe said that in June 2026, the Zamfara State Emergency Management Committee, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Governor, visited crisis-affected communities in Gummi and Maradun Local Government Areas.
He explained that the committee provided N500,000 each to 20 families of deceased victims, N200,000 each to 40 hospitalised victims, as well as more than 500 bags of assorted food items to IDPs in camps.
The Commissioner added that in October 2025, the committee supported 67 rescued kidnapping victims who were returned to their communities in Tsafe Local Government Area with food items, clothing and N350,000 each as livelihood support.
Tsafe said Zamfara currently has more than 290,000 IDPs living in camps and host communities across the state’s 14 local government areas as a result of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Voluntary Initiative, Musa Umar, called on governments and humanitarian partners to strengthen support for IDPs in Zamfara State.
He urged governments to develop and implement effective policies and programmes capable of addressing the humanitarian challenges confronting communities affected by banditry, kidnapping and displacement.
According to him, World Humanitarian Day provides an opportunity to assess the level of humanitarian response by governments and development partners and develop new strategies to improve interventions for IDPs and affected communities.
Musa Umar appealed to stakeholders to provide displaced persons with adequate shelter, livelihood opportunities and other basic necessities, while creating the conditions necessary for their safe return to their communities.
He stressed that the return of IDPs to their ancestral homes could not be achieved without adequate security, noting that many residents were displaced as a result of banditry and kidnapping.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project in Zamfara State, Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdu Gusau, called for stronger collaboration among government, development partners and local communities to address humanitarian challenges confronting vulnerable populations in the state.
Hajiya Sa’adatu, who spoke during the World Humanitarian Day commemoration, said this year’s theme, “Strengthening Global Solidarity and Empowering Local Communities,” was particularly relevant to Zamfara.
She stressed that local communities were in the best position to identify their needs and develop appropriate solutions to the challenges affecting them.
The AGILE Coordinator commended the resilience and strength of people living in communities affected by humanitarian crises across the state, assuring them that the Zamfara State Government and its partners remained committed to supporting them.
She said Zamfara valued its partnerships with United Nations agencies, the World Bank, donor organisations, NGOs and other development partners, noting that global solidarity should go beyond financial assistance.
The 2026 World Humanitarian Day commemoration in Gusau commenced with a sensitisation walk from Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital and ended at the Ministry of Humanitarian and Relief Matters.
Relief items were distributed to some vulnerable people during the celebration.
