From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Betta Edu has directed all development partners in Nigeria to intervene urgently in the humanitarian crisis facing Benue State.
The Minister who gave this directive on Thursday at Ichwa IDPs camp in Makurdi during his 2 day visit to flag off the Renewed Hope Shelter Program for poor and Internally Displaced Persons, lamented that the situation in the state is highly ‘unacceptable’ requiring emergency intervention.
She said the State is sitting on keg of gun powder in terms of humanitarian disaster,regretting how over 14,000 internally displaced persons including children, women and men are living in shanties.
“I feel so heavy in my heart and you have given me sleepless night on how to give solution to what is going on here.
“We are here to build low cost houses two(2) sites at the same time for the displaced persons. It should be a matter of emergency for all agencies and everyone in the humanitarian affair to deploy to Benue. The situation is unacceptable. The State government cannot do it alone. Rather than play around and waste resources, this is where it should be put to use.
“United Nation, UN agencies, everyone in the humanitarian space should b deployed to Benue. Imagine 14000 people and households; 6 people living under these shanties. All development partners should step in. There must be immediate intervention.
“We are making a complete demand on every single development partner and we will follow it up to the latter on all of them in Nigeria. Everyone as a matter of urgency, you must deploy to Benue State and find ways to support them in terms of the health care of the people who are intenally displaced because their livelihood have been affected.”
