IOM Donates $1.1m to Support IDPs in Benue

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By Onyeje Abutu-Joel

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has donated the sum of USD1.1 million to support Benue Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Yelewata and Naka areas of the state.

 

The donation was made by the Deputy Director-General (DDG) of IOM, Ugochi Daniels, during her condolence visit to Benue on Wednesday in Makurdi.

 

Speaking, Daniels said that the donation was part of IOM’s support of the Benue government’s efforts to return the IDPs to their ancestral homes with dignity.

 

“The IOM’s support is part of a larger initiative to find durable solutions for IDPs, including helping them return to their places of origin or resettle in new locations.

 

“We are always ready to collaborate with the state government to return the IDPs to their ancestral homes or resettle them in new locations of their choice,” Daniels declared.

 

The DDG insisted that peace building be prioritised in order to solve the humanitarian needs in the state, saying that development could only thrive in the atmosphere of peace.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IOM has been actively involved in providing support to IDPs in Benue in the areas of shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene services, as well as supporting resettlement and livelihood opportunities.

 

Receiving the donation, Gov. Hyacinth Alia also supported IOM with the sum of USD 50,000 as part of the state government’s contribution towards the work efforts of the organisation to dignify the lives of the IDPs.

 

Alia said that the state government was proud of any partnership with IOM, saying, “the organisation has helped the government to operate in coordination by introducing biometric registration of IDPs.

 

“IOM’s constant support of the Benue IDPs has transformed vulnerability into resilience; I commend the organisation for also constructing a mega camp that gave dignified shelter to the IDPs, “ he said.

 

The governor, who expressed concerns over the high population of IDPs in camps, said that many of them were women and children.

 

He, said, therefore, Benue needed strengthening partnership to enable them return home or integrate to new communities of their choice.

 

“We are engaging relevant quarters to ensure their safe return home because that has been my dream from the onset of my administration.

 

“Also, through the response we are getting, I can say that IDPs will soon return to their ancestral homes”, Alia said.

 

NAN also reports that the DDG visited the International Market IDP camp (mega camp) to assure the IDPs they were not forgotten. NAN

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