The Catholic Diocese of Yola has provided critical relief to 60 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugee returnee families at the Fombina IDPs Camp in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State, offering much-needed food assistance amid worsening hardship and food insecurity.
The humanitarian outreach, spearheaded by the Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza, was made possible through the support of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood (FMDM), Ladywell, Great Britain, and coordinated by the Diocese’s Justice, Development and Peace/Caritas (JDPC) team.
Addressing beneficiaries during the distribution exercise, Bishop Mamza said the intervention was aimed at easing the suffering of families displaced by insurgency in Borno State and refugee returnees from Cameroon who are currently sheltering at the camp under difficult conditions.
He painted a grim picture of life in the settlement, noting that many families live in fragile grass-thatched shelters, struggle with severe food shortages, and receive little support from government or humanitarian agencies. According to him, children, pregnant women, and the elderly remain the most vulnerable to hunger, malnutrition, and disease.
“As a Church, we cannot turn away from the suffering of our brothers and sisters. This support is a demonstration of our commitment to restoring hope and dignity to those affected by displacement,” Bishop Mamza said.
Each of the 60 households received a comprehensive food package comprising one bag of maize, 25 kilograms of rice, 25 kilograms of beans, five packs of seasoning cubes, and detergents to help improve their living conditions.
While expressing gratitude to the Franciscan Missionaries for their generosity, the Bishop called for urgent and sustained intervention from government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and humanitarian partners to address the growing needs of displaced families.
He stressed the importance of providing durable shelter, improved healthcare services, food assistance, and livelihood support programmes that would enable the affected families to rebuild their lives and regain self-reliance.
Bishop Mamza also reaffirmed the Diocese’s commitment to continuing humanitarian assistance, educational support, and psychosocial care for vulnerable communities across Adamawa State.
In a message ahead of the 2027 general elections, he encouraged eligible camp residents to obtain their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs), describing voter registration as a vital civic responsibility.
“Your PVC is your voice and your opportunity to choose leaders who will represent your interests. It is the gateway to participating in the democratic process,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Yusuf Ishaku, an indigene of Gwoza, Borno State, expressed profound appreciation to Bishop Mamza and the Franciscan Sisters for the timely intervention.
According to him, many families in the camp had gone without food for days, making the donation a source of renewed hope.
“This assistance came at the right time. For many of us, it is truly a God-answered prayer,” he said.
The intervention highlights the growing role of faith-based organisations in providing humanitarian support to communities affected by conflict and displacement, particularly in Nigeria’s North-East, where thousands of families continue to grapple with the consequences of insurgency and forced migration.
