By Asma’u Ahmad
The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has donated $500, 000 grant to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to scale-up support for fistula repairs and emergency obstetrics care in Borno state.
UNFPA Media Adviser in Nigeria, Hajiya Kori Habib, made this known in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja.
According to her, KOICA has released the grant and further requested UNFPA Nigeria to submit a multi-year proposal of $5 million to scale-up humanitarian work in Borno.
Hajiya Kori said UNFPA Country Representative, Mrs. Beatrice Mutali and KOICA experts’ mission were in Borno to better understand the context and assess the feasibility of UNFPA’s proposal.
She noted that Korea’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Kyu-Duk Noh, led the Korean agency team.
The media adviser added that Mr. Kyu-Duk wanted to have first-hand assessment of UNFPA’s humanitarian response programme in Maiduguri.
She stated that the delegations visited the Muna Garage displaced persons’ camp and met with the state government officials and key humanitarian stakeholders in the state.
She added that the visit was designed to seek for more and sustainable support to speed-up reconstruction and rehabilitation, as well as resettlement of displaced persons in Borno.
She added that the delegation also met with Governor Kashim Shettima, where the governor commended the Korean Republic for its support to the state.
Kori Habib quoted Shettima as requesting that the fund be invested in providing infrastructure, schools, health facilities and shelter for internally displaced persons and the host communities.
She noted that the governor also urged for quick intervention to meet life-saving needs of affected communities, early recovery and resilience in building infrastructure and livelihood support programmes.
The UNFPA media adviser stated that the Korean ambassador had pledged his government’s resolve to partner with UNFPA to work in Borno.
The ambassador, however, said even though KOICA had been working in Nigeria, it was an opportunity for the government to choose to be in at least three selected local government areas of the state.
He added that being in three local government areas would ensure that KOICA’s assistance positively affected the lives of the people.
