The French Embassy in Nigeria says it is supporting two food-aid projects in Borno and Yobe with 850,000 Euro (about N300m).

A statement issued by Mr Vanin Georges, Culture and Information Officer of the Embassy, said the implementation of the projects are to be carried out in Borno and Yobe, starting in June.

“The French Embassy in Nigeria decided to grant a financial support to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Action Against Hunger (ACF) for implementing two projects.

“The projects are under the food-aid programme 2016, an instrument of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support actions for food security and recovery of the means of production.”

The embassy said that ICRC would implement the “food assistance and support for agricultural production for the civilian population in Adamawa and Borno (Maiduguri and around Lake Chad)”.

According to it, ACF will implement the “emergency food security and livelihood interventions for internally displaced persons and crisis affected population in Yobe (Fika Local Government Area)”.

“By doing so, France intends to contribute actively to the support to vulnerable populations affected by the crisis in the North East by helping them to get access to food and water.

“The ICRC and ACF will respectively receive 500,000 Euros and 350,000 Euros for the projects.

“The Embassy of France is strongly committed to fight poverty and to assist the victims of the humanitarian crisis,” it said.

The embassy said the Ambassador of France, Denys Gauer, had met with the head of delegation of ICRC, Mr Karl Mattli, over the project.

According to it, Gauer had also signed an agreement with the Country Director of ACF, Mr Yannick Pouchalan.

“France will also support the International Organisation for Migration on a psychosocial support and access to justice project in favour of affected populations in the North East,” it said. (NAN)