UNICEF supports sexual assault victims in Niger

By Rita Iliya

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has provided livelihood support to the 2022 flood survivors in Niger.

Dr Wilfred Mammah, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, said this during the presentation of items to the 2022 flood survivors at the office of the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Minna on Thursday.

He noted that the beneficiaries were 24 children who were sexually violated during the 2022 flood in the state.

“In 2022, Niger experienced major flood that affected virtually all the local governments, and you know that when there was an emergency such as flood, children and women are mostly affected.

“UNICEF decided to support the state government by working with the state Ministry of Women Affairs and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to support these survivors,” he said.

Mammah said that the children were identified, documented and interviewed on what happened to them and were given physco-social support as part of UNICEF intervention.

He added that the livelihood support was to assist parents of the survivors to cater for the survivors.

In her remarks, Hajiya Kaltum Rufai, Permanent Secretary of the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, appreciated UNICEF for the gesture as well as adding value to what the state government was doing on child protection.

She said that the UNICEF support was to add value to the 2022 flood survivors as well support their families’s livelihood, urging them to make judicious use of the items given to them.

Similarly, Mrs Theresa Pamma, Water Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist.and Emergency Focal Person, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, said that more than 65,000 people were affected in one way or the other during the 2022 flood.

She added that more than 35,000 people who stayed in IDP camps were struggling to survive while some people were taking advantage of the situation to violate children.

She also noted that UNICEF have zero tolerance for sexual harassment and gender based violence.

In his remarks, Mala Bala Musa, UNICEF Focal Person in NOA, advised parents to ensure that every home has a toilet.

He alsi said that violators took advantage of children going to defecate in the bush to violate them.

Mrs Mary John and Mr Inuwa Ibrahim who are beneficiaries appreciated UNICEF for the gesture and promised to make judicious use of the items given to them to better their lives.

(NAN)