Benue IDPs Ready to Enjoy the Yuletide

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has released over N1 billion worth of food and non-food items for distribution to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps and host communities across the state.

The governor, who carried out the exercise through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Deaconess Serumun Deborah Aber Esq., who also doubles as Head of the Technical Committee on the Implementation of the intervention by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, alongside other critical stakeholders, said the intervention was aimed at alleviating the suffering of victims of the Yelewata attack. He noted that the distribution also extends to other IDP camps and host communities across the state.

The government expressed confidence that the gesture, which coincides with the Christmas and New Year festivities, would make the celebrations more enjoyable for the beneficiaries. It explained that the over N1 billion donation from the First Lady of Nigeria, contributions from other critical stakeholders, as well as the state government’s counterpart funding, made it possible to procure the relief items.

The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Aondowase Kunde, who stood in for the SSG, addressed the media during the exercise.

Items presented for onward distribution include 7,500 bags of 25kg rice. The Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), Sir James Iorapuu, further clarified that while the government used funds donated by the First Lady and other stakeholders to procure 5,100 bags of rice, BSEMA added 240 bags to the stock.

He also disclosed that 1,300 bags of gari, 1,600 bags of beans, 800 bags of maize, 200 cartons each of Maggi cubes and sugar, 140 gallons of 20-litre groundnut oil, 50 gallons of palm oil, and 500 mattresses, among other items, were ready for distribution to enable the beneficiaries enjoy the yuletide.

For IDPs not residing in camps in areas such as Agatu, Apa, Gwer East, Kwande, Otukpo and Ukum Local Government Areas, the relief materials will be delivered to senior traditional rulers, who will identify genuinely displaced persons within their domains in order to prevent manipulation by political actors.

On this note, the governor said, “Some of you, members of the pen community, are already aware of the ongoing activities in the areas of food and non-food material distribution, resettlement through the construction of new houses for cluster settlements in Yelewata.” He added that the conditional cash transfer programme for 1,000 beneficiaries was ongoing, while the WASH programme has drilled three boreholes in Yelewata to stimulate additional support initiatives in agriculture and education.

Similarly, the governor noted that the water treatment plant provided in Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area, would supply safe and clean water not only to IDPs but also to surrounding communities.

Describing the intervention as a long-term and sustainable gesture, Governor Alia said it would “promote public health, human dignity and peaceful coexistence,” in line with his administration’s commitment to consistently prioritise the welfare, safety and dignity of displaced persons.

He assured that partnerships with local and international stakeholders would continue, not only in times of crisis but at all times, to guarantee sustainable interventions focused on resettlement, livelihood restoration, access to basic services, and improved living conditions for affected populations.