Gourma: 143 households, including 100 internally displaced persons and 43 host families, benefited from food assistance in Fada N’Gourma, facilitated by the Office for the Development of Evangelical Churches (ODE) with support from its partner Kerk in Actie.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the aid included a variety of essential food items: each household received a 25 kg bag of rice, maize, and cowpea, along with 2 kg of sugar, 2 kg of fortified flour, 1 kg of salt, and 3 litres of oil. The initiative was acknowledged by the Secretary General of Gourma Province, Yaya Kone, who emphasized its role in alleviating distress and fostering community cohesion.
Mr. Kone highlighted the dire situation in Gourma, which had over 124,000 internally displaced persons as of March 2023, severely impacting social cohesion and increasing food vulnerability. He stressed the symbolic significance of the aid, underlining themes of solidarity and communal living. He also urged stakeholders to ensure the operation’s transparency and effectiveness.
Pierre Kabore, the ODE program coordinator, stated that the assistance aligns with the government’s objectives to support populations affected by security and humanitarian challenges. Kabore noted that ODE’s efforts extend to water and sanitation, involving borehole construction, latrine building, and awareness sessions to promote peace and social cohesion.
Expressing gratitude, beneficiary Songuipari Souobou remarked on the relief the donation provided, particularly in supporting her children’s needs for food and education. The event signifies the second phase of a three-month operation, with a total funding of over 20 million CFA francs.