UNICEF Decry Diversion, Sales of Mal-nourished Children’s Food
By Ladi Dapson Maiduguri
The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF has raisedg alarm over diversion and reselling of RUTF, a food meant for over half a million mal-nourished children in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe state.
The Organisation described the act as ‘going out of hand’ and may result in the death of many under-aged children.
Speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri during a one day meeting with stakeholders in the state, the UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Joseph Senesie said the diversion is being carried out by workers, transporters and traders.
In his words “the issue is going out of hand, where either traders, transporters and some workers being found involved or caught for misusing or diverting supplies, which is a major issue to UNICEF”
“We have done investigations to know what is happening, and we have found it is happening online, in the market, which we believe the law enforcements should do their work to ensure these free commodities go free to the right people (children)”
According to him, UNICEF is targeting more than half a million children with the supplies in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
While speaking on the effect of the product diversion, Senesie said “For a child to die because the product meant for them is stolen is alarming to us. This problem is huge, we all know how insecurity, food insecurity and everything is affecting families and those who are displaced, so if those doing this sell these commodities, you are depriving the children, and they are going to die, and not only that, we will not have resources for those who really needs it, donors will stop”.
He urged stakeholders to contribute their efforts in advancing the rights of mal-nourished children.
“We want everyone, like law enforcement agencies to do their work, we want action from the government transporters, never to transport anything of nutrition commodities which are not going directly without a way-bill, traders not to sell, buyers not to buy because it is free. We want action from health workers not to sell or divert these supplies. We want action from everyone”
He also called on the media to support the organisation in advocating for children’s right and support its campaign against diversion of supplies
He urged security agencies in the state to return any confiscated supplies from those diverting it to the state government in order to prevent them from expiring
“When the police confisticate these supplies, it should come back to the ministry of health for it to be used, not to be in police stores ” he appealed.
