The UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Dr Mathias Schmale, made this known when he visited Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia at the Government House in Makurdi, stressing that the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) could not be overlooked.
The United Nations (UN) has stated that the humanitarian crisis in Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camps in Benue State is presently worse than those in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria, particularly Borno State.
The UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Dr Mathias Schmale, made this known when he visited Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia at the Government House in Makurdi, stressing that the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) could not be overlooked.
According to a release, the UN official said, “What I see in the IDPs camps in Benue is worse than what I saw in Borno. We urge you to help the team to identify key issues in order to find solutions to the insecurity crisis bedeviling the state, we are keen with government who are willing to bring lasting solutions – relocating them (IDPs) back to their homes.”
Governor Alia on his part decried the extent of humanitarian crisis his administration on assumption of office had encountered.
He said, “An enormous humanitarian crisis occasioned by various forms of conflicts and natural disasters, which has left us with internally displaced persons, covering 37,412 households with a total population of 2,124,000.
“Out of this number, 241,342 persons are in 13 IDPs camps while the balance of 1,882,658 live within their host communities. The plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) cannot be overlooked. SEMA has been directed to put together a resettlement plan, which will be shared with your office to solicit for intervention," the statement added.