The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has been in the fore front responding to humanitarian needs arising from the armed conflict in the North East Nigeria. The NRCS through her indefatigable community based Volunteers has remained almost always the first to respond and the last to leave scenes of incidence. The NRCS Volunteers who are community members also come under attack when their communities are attacked. They too become Internally Displaced after losing homes and means of livelihood or cannot go home because of insecurity. Yet they are not deterred from rendering humanitarian services to fellow IDPs without themselves getting assistance most of the times.
Hassan Cosmos Yaduma is one of the many NRCS Volunteers who were affected by the armed conflict when their communities were attacked.
Hassan, with his parents and siblings ran into the bush when Guyaku community in Gombi Local Area Council of Adamawa state came under attack. When they returned they found rubble and ashes at the spot where their home once stood.
The family, apart from losing their home and all household properties, lost about 50 bags of maize, 100 bags of groundnut, bags of guinea corn and beans and according to Hassan the family has not been assisted.
Asked why he is assisting others even though he was affected and have not received assistance; he said ‘it gives me joy when I am able to assist someone no matter my own situation’.
It is still fresh in our mind that six of the NRCS invaluable and indefatigable Volunteers lost their lives in the Rann unfortunate bombing incidence in an IDP camp.
Nwakpa O. Nwakpa
Head of Communication and Advocacy
NRCS
