The United Kingdom has spent £1.4 million on COVID-19 palliatives in three northern states of Borno, Benue and Kaduna.

The European country disbursed the fund through its department for the administration of overseas aid, Department for International Development (DFID).

The fund is disbursed in Borno in partnership with Christian Aid (CAID), the Mercy Vincent Foundation and EYN Project.

Speaking at a learning and reflection meeting on Localised Preparedness and Response to Primary and Secondary Impacts of COVID-19 on IDPs, Returnees and Vulnerable Populations in hard-to-reach areas of Nigeria, held at the weekend in Maiduguri, the Cash Coordinator of CAID, Mr Sendi Dauda said the DFID through the project focused on: “Supporting and Empowering Vulnerable Households to successfully deal with the effects of COVID-19 and reduce the risk of infection.”

Dauda said in Borno State alone, 6374 households benefited from four local government areas of Maiduguri, Dikwa, Jere and Konduga.

He disclosed that most of the beneficiaries were from internally displaced persons’ camps in the benefiting local government areas.

Dauda said the project had brought smiles to the faces of many of the displaced persons and had aided in reducing their vulnerability to the COVID-19 pandemic.