By Amos Aar
ACTIONAID Nigeria Tuesday commenced the disbursement of fourteen thousand, five hundred naira (N14,500) each to two thousand, five hundred and sixty (2,560) households in eight communities affected by the reprisal attacks by troops of the Nigerian Army on Shangev-Tiev in Konshisha local Government Area of Benue State in April this year.
Manager for Humanitarian Residents, ActionAid Nigeria, Mr David Habba, who represented the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs Ene Obi, told newsmen that eighty-nine million naira was earmarked by the organisation to provide food and non-food items for the victims at Gbinde, Gungul, Guleya, Bonta, Agidi and other affected areas.
Mr Habba stated that this phase of intervention was mainly for food items which were given in cash so that the beneficiaries would buy foodstuff of their choice while the next round will involve donation of other relief materials like clothing, footwear, buckets and dignity kits for women of reproductive age. He added that they will also rehabilitate and construct water facilities in those areas so as to cushion the effect of water challenge occasioned by the destruction of relevant resources during the incident.
According to Mr Goodluck Omoh, ActionAid Nigeria Adviser on Logistics, other items like jericans, mosquito nets, cups, spoons, plates and every other household item that would enable the victims to bounce back to life will be provided in the next round. He said the intervention would continue until all the profiled beneficiaries will be reached as planned.
Commenting on the humanitarian gesture, District Head (Tyoor) of Iwarnyam Council Ward, Chief Lazarus Unaha Kõkõ, whose residence at Agidi Community was also burnt during the military operation, appreciated ActionAid Nigeria for giving them succour and showered his royal blessing on them to sustain selfless service to humanity.
Some beneficiaries, Catherine Terzungwe Tyavkase and Ngufan Nyitor who spoke with Newsmen expressed joy and thanked ActionAid for their philanthropic gesture.
