The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for an integrated, community-owned recovery programme to help survivors of the kidnapping in Woro community in Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria, overcome trauma, regain confidence and reintegrate into their communities.
UNICEF said rebuilding communities after violence requires trusted institutions and leaders capable of restoring confidence, promoting inclusion and strengthening social cohesion.
The UNICEF Kaduna Chief of Field Office, Dr Gerida Birukila, represented by the Emergency Focal Person, Mrs Theresa Pamma, made the call at the training and inauguration of Integrated Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services for Woro stakeholders in Ilorin, Kwara State.
READ ALSO: Kwara Government Reaffirms Support for Rescued Woro Residents
Dr Birukila stressed the need to help the victims and their families regain a sense of safety, noting that the community would recover when families supported one another, leaders governed inclusively and created spaces where people could speak freely without fear of intimidation or victimisation.
She also emphasised the role of teachers in helping children reconnect with learning and return to normal childhood activities.
According to her, UNICEF collaborated with the Kwara State Government to provide mental health and psychosocial support to survivors of the Woro community kidnapping, with the aim of helping them reconnect with their community and regain the confidence to participate in everyday life.
Dr Birukila explained that through the training, UNICEF was equipping participants with the tools and skills to support one another with empathy and without judgement.
She said the recovery of children must enable them to reclaim the ordinary experiences that make childhood meaningful, particularly learning, playing, forming friendships, feeling safe and dreaming about the future.
While stressing the importance of children’s recovery, Dr Birukila said survivors should not be isolated or treated merely as victims of a crisis, but as people with rights, abilities, aspirations and a future.
According to her, “A child who is traumatised may need a social worker. A child who has missed school needs an opportunity to learn again. A family struggling after displacement may need protection, health, nutrition, safety, access to water, sanitation and hygiene.”
She added that the UNICEF remained committed to working with the Kwara Government to strengthen integrated services in health, nutrition, education, child protection, and water, sanitation and hygiene.
 has called for an integrated, community-owned recovery programme to){kind=link}