THE BENUE State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) says 80 families from the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state, have returned to their ancestral homes in Makurdi, the state capital.
Dr James Iorpuu, Executive Secretary (ES), SEMA, disclosed this on Monday during the monthly relief distribution exercise in Makurdi.
Iorpuu also the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management said the IPDs returned in Tatyough and Tyomu communities.
Represented by Dr Donald Komgbenda, he said that SEMA had provided basic amenities in the two communities to improve their standard of living.
He noted that the challenges facing IDPs in the state remained enormous, but commended the governor for his “remarkable compassion and determination in addressing them through practical interventions”.
He disclosed that the food and non-food items would be distributed across 15 official IDP camps in the state.
“Beyond meeting immediate needs, Gov. Alia’s administration is taking deliberate and strategic steps to restore livelihoods and rebuild communities.
“In collaboration with our partners, Benue SEMA has commenced the biometric review and issuance of new identity cards to IDPs in camps and host communities to ensure proper documentation and inclusion.
“Through our partnership with the UNHCR, solar-powered boreholes have been drilled in returnee communities such as Tatyough in Makurdi Local Government Area, where food and non-food items were also distributed to assist families in rebuilding their lives.
“Likewise, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), we have initiated housing and water projects at Naka Dam, including the construction of a water treatment plant aimed at addressing the persistent challenge of water scarcity in Naka IDP camp and surrounding host communities,” he said.
Iorpuu said Alia’s “Renewed Hope Vision” sort not just to provide relief but to restore dignity, promote self-reliance, and ensure the safe and sustainable return of the displaced populations.
He listed items to be distributed to include 2,300 25kg bags of rice, 600 bags of beans, 150 gallons of red oil, 140 cartons of maggi and 160 gallons of ground nut oil among others. (NAN)
