By Amos Aar
INTERNALLY Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State have cried out once again to the state government to put in place a formidable and inclusive security structure to ensure their safe return to their ancestral homes to continue with their normal way of life.
The IDPs made the call when a team of Disaster Assessment Response Team (DART) from the United States Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (U.S BHA) led by the Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), Sir James Iorpuu, visited IDP camps in the state between Tuesday and Wednesday in continuation of the needs and impact assessment tour.
According to 2022 Benue Humanitarian Response Plan, over 1. 5 million people have been displaced with the majority residing in camps and host communities and official camps.
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The delegation of US Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, headed by the Senior Humanitarian Advisor, Patrick Robin, while interacting with Camp Management, IDPs and representatives of host communities said the visit was to get first-hand information about IDPs situation and present their report as well as to look at how best the US government could collaborate and work together with Benue State Government in alleviating their sufferings.
The Advisor noted that the humanitarian situation in Benue State was critical and needed serious intervention.
“The humanitarian challenges facing Benue are huge and require a strong and comprehensive response”, Robin said.
On his part, the Acting Executive Secretary of BSEMA, Sir James Iorpuu, assured the IDPs of a coherent humanitarian response under Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration.
Iorpuu said the Governor was collaborating with both international and local partners to provide permanent solution to their plight, assuring them that the resettlement plan by the government would be done. He added that the camp to camp tour by the US delegation was also in line with the Governor’s coherent humanitarian response.
