Bam: The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has initiated a significant distribution of food kits to 1,200 households in the communes of Tikaré and Kongoussi, responding to a call from Burkina Faso’s authorities to support Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). This initiative, launched on October 22, 2024, aims to provide essential food supplies to vulnerable populations, including both IDPs and host communities.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the distribution includes 1,200 food kits, each consisting of 50 kg of rice, 50 kg of millet, 20 kg of cowpea, and various condiments such as soumbala, oil, salt, and smoked fish. The targeted beneficiaries include 800 households in Kongoussi and 400 in Tikaré. Edmond Gué, ADRA’s Country Director in Burkina Faso, emphasized that the selection of beneficiaries was carried out in collaboration with the provincial directorate in charge of Humanitarian Action in Bam.
Gué noted that this food assistance, totaling 60 tons of rice, 60 tons of millet, and
24 tons of beans, is part of a collective effort to enhance food and nutritional security for the affected communities. Beneficiaries like Kadiguèta Ouédraogo, an IDP from Zimtanga in Kongoussi, expressed gratitude for the support, highlighting the relief it provides during challenging times.
Moïse Bado, the regional director responsible for humanitarian action in the Centre-North, affirmed that the donation aligns with Burkina Faso’s humanitarian assistance standards, which stipulate a minimum of 12.5 kg of food per person. He also praised ADRA for complementing governmental efforts in addressing the needs of displaced populations.
Karim Ouédraogo, Secretary General of Bam Province, urged beneficiaries to utilize the aid judiciously to ensure their food needs are met effectively. This distribution reflects a coordinated effort to alleviate the hardships faced by IDPs and host communities in the region.
