The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday distributed food and non-food items to 300 households of People with Disabilities (PWDs) affected by rain/windstorm disasters in Kano State.

The exercise was done in collaboration with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).

At the occasion, NEMA’s director-general, Zubaida Umar, said the beneficiaries were from eight communities in the state’s Ungogo Local Government Area.

Ms Umar, represented by Nura Abdullahi, the Kano coordinator of the NEMA Territorial Office, said the gesture was intended to address the immediate needs and support the beneficiaries’ recovery efforts.

“As citizens of this great nation, you have the right to be cared for in moments of hardship. This distribution exercise is a testament to our dedication to upholding that right and ensuring your needs are met,” Ms Umar said.

According to her, the gesture to the PWDs was made possible by a request from the NCPWD for NEMA’s intervention.

“We approved the distribution of relief materials in line with the renowned hope agenda of the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed to address the immediate needs of the affected persons,” she added.

In his remarks, the executive secretary NCPWD, Ayuba Burki-Gufwan, commended NEMA for its support and concern for vulnerable people.

Represented by Fatima Abubakar-Doki, the NCPWD officer for the women’s agenda unit, Mr Burki-Gufwan said the commission would continue to support and advocate for the rights and needs of PWDs.

“As we respond to this humanitarian emergency, we are guided by the provisions of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018. Specifically, Section 25 of the Act states:

“We are committed to upholding this provision and ensuring that persons with disabilities receive the support and protection they need during times of crisis,” Mr Burki-Gufwan said.

Adamu Aliyu-Kibiya, Kano State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, also applauded NEMA and NCPWD for mobilising relief materials for the PWDs in Kano.

In his remarks, the executive secretary, Kano SEMA, Isyaku Kubarachi, urged the beneficiaries not to sell the items to make judicious use of them for the purpose intended.

The items distributed include 257 bags of 25kg rice, 257 bags of 25kg maize, 257 cartons of spaghetti, 25 cartons of seasoning cubes, 30 bags of iodised salt, and 30 cartons of tomato paste.

Others are 771 nylon mats, 771 blankets, and 771 treated mosquito nets.

(NAN)