Abia Govt Mulls Creation Of Body To Assist In Response To Humanitarian Matters

Abia State Government says it’s considering creating a robust agency under the office of the governor to respond to humanitarian matters in the state especially as insecurity and disaster escalate around the country.

Speaking with ABN TV, Special Adviser to the Governor on Humanitarian Affairs, NGO Matters and Social Parliament, Dr. Origa Francis said a body independent of government bureaucracy, that can respond to emergencies and separated from bureaucratic is important at this moment.

He noted that a board or an agency that interfaces with the office of the governor, proactive enough to respond to humanitarian challenges, source for resources and be independent of long protocols will go a long way in boosting the response to issues that directly impact on humans.

He was speaking ahead of World Humanitarian Day coming up on August 19.

He said the day set aside to honour humanitarian workers who have lost their lives in the course of service to humanity will witness an event to be hosted by the state government.

With the theme, ‘Change The Human Race’ the event will be first of its kind in the state.

He said the governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu found it imperative to engage seasoned humanitarian professionals to help the state in mapping out strategies on how humanitarian responses can be best coordinated.

“We see this programme as one of the platforms that can help us to bring stakeholders together, sensitise them and define a way of moving forward and forging an alliance in humanitarian programmes going forward,” he said.

Dr. Francis while stressing that humanitarian challenges and catastrophe can affect anyone, he said stakeholders involved in humanitarian response especially NGOs, CSOs and others who are major targets for the event.

Also targeted are traditional rulers, religious leaders and others who play key roles in times of disasters.

He said at the end of the exercise, humanitarian response on the state will come alive and reawaken the human consciousness in response to humanitarian issues, adding that man is God to his fellow man.

According to the Governor’s aide, human existentialism is under threat because of several factors including climate change, natural and man-made disaster, maintaining that the event offers opportunity for cross-fertilisation of ideas on issues that affect human race.