On Tuesday, the United Nations Children’s Fund expressed concern over the resale and diversion of RUTF, a food item intended for more than half a million undernourished children in Borno, Adamawa State.
According to the organization, the behavior is “going out of hand” and could kill a lot of young infants.
During a one-day meeting with state stakeholders, UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office Joseph Senesie told reporters in Maiduguri that workers, transporters, and traders are responsible for the diversion.
The problem is getting out of control, he claimed, with traders, transporters, and some employees being discovered or apprehended for misusing or rerouting supplies, which is a serious problem for UNICEF.
We’ve conducted investigations to find out what’s going on, and we’ve discovered that it’s occurring online and in the market. We think law enforcement should do its part to make sure the appropriate kids receive these free goods.
He claims that UNICEF is providing supplies to over 500,000 children 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”
Senesie urged stakeholders to contribute their efforts in advancing the rights of malnourished children
“We want everyone, like law enforcement agency 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 it’s campaign against the diversion of supplies
In order to keep supplies from expiring, Senesie also asked the state’s security forces to return any that were seized from individuals transferring them to the state administration.
“These supplies should be returned to the ministry of health for use, not to be in police stores, after the police station confisticates them,” he continued.
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