BSEMA Commends UNCHR On Securing Funds For The Agency
Tamenor Kwaghzer
May 8, 2026 10:40
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Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) has praised United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) on the basis of winning the funding support from the Nigerian Humanitarian Fund for ease of service rendition by the state agency.
The Executive Secretary of BSEMA, James Iorpuu (PhD) expressed gratitude while briefing media on Thursday, May 7th, 2026 concerning the distribution of food and non food items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in fifteen camps and host communities across the state.
Sir Iorpuu who is also the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management said that the extra funding would enable the agency meet the targeted humanitarian objective very effectively as required.
He clarified that the funding targeted specifically the "vulnerable persons in Guma and Makurdi LGAs." According to him, the intervention funds would contribute to improve living conditions of affected households and strengthen humanitarian response initiatives of the communities. The Permanent Secretary applauded the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for excellent collaborations to strengthen the local communities on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) processes in the state.
He added that the initiative would reinforce the local emergency management structures and enhance training for grassroots emergency volunteers to scale up their "preparedness, resilience and community based response mechanisms in times of emergencies and disasters!"
The BSEMA scored Governor Hyacinth Alia high for letting his administration to sustain support for the agency with regular releases of the funds promptly among others with the aim of addressing the humanitarian needs in the state.
Iorpuu who acknowledged the gesture as symbolic said that it was a "clear demonstration of leadership, compassion and dedication to the welfare of the displaced persons and affected communities."
On a related development, he hailed other partners who include IDPs in camps, host communities and the media for cooperation to serve with dignity and succeed on the tasking job.
On the other hand, Sir Iorpuu expressed concern over large population of the displaced persons from the Republic of Cameroun currently taking refuge in camps of the state. According to him, more than thirteen thousand persons in the camps have increased the challenging pressure not only for BSEMA but also worsen economic conditions of the host communities.
To ameliorate the harsh conditions, Sir Iorpuu urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to intervene for respite to come to the situation.
