Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for a holistic approach in tackling humanitarian crises and ensuring durable solutions.

The Vice President, who made the appeal at the United Towns Agency (UTA) for North-South Cooperation International Humanitarian Award and Lecture, and the unveiling of UTA’s Social Centre on Friday in Abuja, represented by Mrs Zubaida Umar, Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), stressed the need for collaborative efforts to protect vulnerable communities from harm.

According to him, a village that is abandoned to terror becomes a corridor of displacement, while a model community surrendered to hunger becomes a market to traffickers. He also said that communities that are kept away from others often discover that the fire they dismissed at a distance could find its way to their own door.

In his remarks, Dr Bernard Doro, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, commended UTA for its initiative to commemorate World Humanitarian Day, celebrated globally on Aug. 19.

In a keynote address, Zamfara Governor, Dauda Lawal, represented by Alhaji Mouktar Lugga, his Chief of Staff, said humanitarian actions should be centred more on protecting lives and upholding human dignity.

UTA-Nigeria Country President, Amb. Abigail Amalaha, disclosed the event was organised to honour those who stood in the gap of humanity, while Dr Eya Essif, UTA Global Secretary-General, said Nigeria occupied a very special place in UTA-African vision, saying Nigeria was at the heart of the conversation, and must also be at the heart of the action.

The event, with the theme: “Strengthening Global Solidarity and Empowering Local Communities,” attracted government, traditional institutions, civil society, and private sector leaders.