From TERESE TUHWA, Makurdi
As part of measures to find a lasting solution to the humanitarian crises bedevilling the state, Governor Hyacinth Alia recently played host to a delegation from United States Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and Population, Refugees and Migration and key partners.
The governor, while addressing the team and key partners at the Government House, Makurdi, described the visit as a significant milestone to Benue State which since 2018 has been grappling with humanitarian challenges arising from relentless farmer/ herder clashes, banditry, kidnapping, maiming and killings.
According to the 2022 Benue Humanitarian Response Plan, over 1. 5 million people have been forcefully ejected out of their ancestral homes with the majority residing in official and unofficial camps.
He added that the internally displaced persons were faced with severe challenges such as access to health care, education, water, sanitation/hygiene (WASH) while over 80% of the displaced population was traumatised and are in a poor state of mental health due to atrocities witnessed during the attacks.
Governor Alia described the visit as very pivotal to Benue as according to him, it will offer the team an opportunity to witness first hand the living condition of those affected.
He maintained that the visit will facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the humanitarian situation in the state in order to determine how best they can respond to the growing humanitarian concern which he said has surpassed the financial and technical capacity of the state.
Governor Alia commended the efforts of International partners including International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Save the Children International (SCI), Medicines San Frontiers (MSF), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) who he said are playing significant roles in supporting Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA).
The governor also appreciated the support of all partners who played one role or the other in developing the State Humanitarian Response Plan focusing on the 3R: Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, aimed at building resilience and facilitating the recovery of affected populations and communities.
He lamented the non capturing of humanitarian situations in the state in the country’s Humanitarian Response Plan, thus, placing the state in a disadvantaged position.
On his commitment to support and work closely with the humanitarian sector to ensure the return of IDPs, Governor Alia called on the US BHA team to do everything within its powers to ensure that the humanitarian situation in the state was recognised as a global problem.
He commended the Acting Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), Sir. James Iorpuu for his strong commitment and hard work towards ensuring that the vision of the agency to serve humanity was achieved.
The governor approved an office accommodation for UNHCR to create an enabling environment for genuine partners to complement the state government in restoring hope to Persons of Concern.
Earlier in his speech, the Acting Executive Secretary, BSEMA, Sir James Iorpuu, attributed the agency’s partnership with humanitarian partners, Line MDAs and Civil Society Organisations in mitigating the negative impact of crises and ensuring the well being of affected population to Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia’s support and passion for humanity. He said the administration’s openness for partners and resettlement plan for IDPs has witnessed an influx of support partners as well as the visit of US, BHA.
Director General, Bureau for Benue State International Cooperation and Development (BICD), Leonard Viashima said the US BHA visit was to support the state’s commitment to tackling the problems of Persons of Concern, the State’s Resettlement Plan for IDPs. And expressed commitment to actualize the core mandates of the institution.
The US BHA team leader, Mr. Patrick Robin, informed Governor Alia that the team’s visit was to get first hand information about the humanitarian situation in the state and team up with government to find pathways to resettle the IDPs and reintegrate them into their communities.
Accompanied by a delegation from IOM and UNHCR, Mr. Robin thanked the Benue State government through BSEMA for a warm reception.
The US BHA team and representatives of UNHCR and IOM were later taken to some IDP camps, including Ichwa and Baka in Makurdi and Uikpam in Guma Local Government Areas where they addressed IDPs and had a face to face interaction with them.
