Jesuit Entity Giving Livelihood Assistance to Locals Displaced by Terrorists in Nigeria

Abuja, 25 December, 2024 / 10:53 PM

The Jesuits Refugee Service (JRS) is providing education and livelihood assistance to people who have been displaced by Islamists in Nigeria’s embattled Borno State.

In a Tuesday, December 17 report, officials of the  Society of Jesus (Jesuits) ' international refugee entity say the European Union (EU)- funded initiative is benefiting community members in Dikwa and Mongonu Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state in northeastern  Nigeria.

According to JRS, the refugees, many of them farmers, struggle to make ends meet as they are unable to access their farmlands.

By creating livelihood opportunities, the Jesuit entity says, the initiative helps participants achieve self-reliance, enabling them “to stand on their own two feet.”

JRS says that the insurgency in Borno State has significantly worsened living conditions for local communities.

During the launch of the initiative in July last year, JRS said that the primary aim of the project was to support children including (Internally Displaced Persons) IDPs, to increase access to safe and quality education in conflict-affected areas of Borno State.

They explained, “Considering the ongoing armed conflict in the region, access to education has become a significant challenge for school-aged children, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host community children, especially girls, and children with disabilities.”

The entity disclosed that the project targeted 23,442 children including 18,905 school-aged children who it said would have access to improved formal education, while 4,170 school-aged children would access non-formal education.