Togo: Launch of an emergency programme to support people affected by terrorism
The Togolese government’s commitment to prioritize the prevention and combat of violent extremism was recently reinforced during the cabinet meeting on Thursday, November 23rd. A decree was signed to launch a comprehensive initiative aimed at supporting communities affected by terrorism and security challenges, known as the «Emergency Program to Strengthen Resilience and Security of Communities».
This program aims to implement various actions to enhance the resilience of communities on all fronts. It will cover the entire territory, particularly focusing on areas affected by terrorist acts and violent extremism identified based on threat levels.
The initiative introduces a social component to support grassroots populations facing «serious threats», «terrorist attacks», and «increased transnational crime», especially in the northern part of the country and the Savanes region.
It is intended to build upon existing initiatives, including the Emergency Program for the Savanes Region (PURS), which recently secured a 30 billion CFA franc financing from the West African Development Bank (BOAD). The government aims to better coordinate actions to reinforce community resilience across various aspects—security, social, health, and economic.
It’s worth noting that the Savanes region, susceptible to terrorist incursions, remains under a state of security emergency. The emergency plan implemented in the Savanes has significantly improved various social sectors in the region over a little more than a year.
These improvements include enhanced access to water and rural electricity, over 1.000 hectares of lowland development, distribution of over 21.000 tons of agricultural fertilizers, provision of irrigation kits, and the construction of wells.
