Food meant for over half a million malnourished children in Borno and Adamawa States were being diverted and resold.
The United Nations Children’s Fund, on Tuesday, raised the alarm and said the act of ‘going out of hand’ may result in the death of many under-aged children.
The UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Joseph Senesie, accused workers, transporters and traders of being responsible for the acts.
He said it is a major issue for 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 enforcement should do their work to ensure these free commodities go for the right children.”
According to him, UNICEF is targeting more than half a million children with the supplies in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe state
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 told stakeholders to contribute their efforts in advancing the rights of malnourished 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 noted.
He also called on the media to support the organisation in advocating for children’s rights and support its campaign against the diversion of supplies
Senesie also 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 station confiscates these supplies, it should come back to the ministry of health for it to be used, not to be in police stores,” he added.
