The Borno State Flood Disaster Relief Distribution Committee, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, began distributing nutrition kits to more than 4,680 malnourished children in the state on Monday.
In addition, the initiative is providing energy-saving stoves to 1,000 households in communities affected by recent floods.
The distribution campaign was launched in Shokari community, located in the Jere local government area of Borno State.
 Co-chair of the Committee, Professor Ibrahim Umara, expressed deep appreciation for FAO’s timely intervention, noting its critical role in improving the nutritional status of children in the aftermath of the flooding.
Speaking on behalf of the state, Professor Umara acknowledged the positive impact of FAO’s support. “On behalf of the Borno State government and the people of Jere, we are very grateful and acknowledge the intervention of the Food and Agriculture Organisation,” he said.
He also praised the provision of fuel-efficient stoves, emphasizing their importance in addressing deforestation and other environmental issues, especially in a region already grappling with the effects of climate change.
The Officer in Charge of FAO’s Northeast sub-regional office, Mr. Daouda Doumbia, highlighted that this distribution marks FAO’s first intervention specifically targeting victims of the recent floods in Borno State.
He elaborated that each malnourished child under the age of five would receive 12 kilograms of supplementary food over a period of eight weeks.
The supplementary food, known as Tom Brown, is made from locally sourced ingredients and is intended to enhance the children’s nutritional status.
Doumbia stressed that the distribution of Tom Brown is a crucial part of FAO’s efforts to support vulnerable populations impacted by natural disasters, particularly in addressing the pressing issue of food insecurity.
“The Tom Brown supplementary food distribution, made from locally sourced ingredients, is aimed at supporting vulnerable populations affected by the natural disaster and addressing critical food security needs,” he explained.
In addition to the nutritional support, FAO is also distributing Safe Access to Fuel and Energy (SAFE) kits, which include fuel-efficient stoves and briquettes.
These kits are designed to help 1,000 households reduce their environmental impact, mitigate deforestation, and manage the challenges that arise from returning to flood-affected communities.
“As people begin returning to their communities, this is the time for FAO to work with them to build resilience and improve nutrition in the affected areas,” Doumbia said, underlining the long-term goal of enhancing community resilience in the face of environmental and economic challenges.
FAO’s contributions to this relief effort include 12,000 packs of Tom Brown, with each pack weighing 1 kilogram, totaling 12 tons.
Additionally, 1,000 kits containing fuel-efficient stoves and 28 kilograms of briquettes have been distributed to the targeted households.
These combined efforts are aimed at helping flood-affected families recover, while also promoting sustainable practices that protect the environment.
