By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
The Christian Aid Nigeria on Tuesday launched a rapid response project to support more than 10,000 displaced persons with emergency relief and trauma care following the recent brutal killings of over 200 residents in Yelwata community of Guma Local Government Area in Benue State.
At the official launch held at the Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD) in Makurdi, Christian Aid’s Head of Programmes, Victor Arokoyo, announced that the Start Fund Alert 963 project will deliver cash transfers, non-food items, WASH services, dignity kits, and psychosocial support to 1,500 affected households in the ravaged community.
“This response is about more than aid – it’s about restoring dignity and offering hope to survivors of unimaginable violence,” Arokoyo said.
Speaking at the event, the Benue State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Aondowase Kunde, praised the initiative as “a true act of solidarity.”
“This is not just a gesture of charity, it is moral clarity in action. We must rise above fragmentation and commit to accountable, well-coordinated relief,” Kunde stated, calling on humanitarian stakeholders to align their efforts through state-led mechanisms.
He added that the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) and BICD will co-supervise the project to ensure seamless distribution and transparency.
On her part, the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Serumun Deborah Aber, described the launch as a “strategic expression of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.”
“Duplication of effort, competition for visibility, and siloed operations are not only inefficient, they are unethical, given the scale of suffering and the finite resources available,” she said.
Aber revealed that Benue has just validated a comprehensive IDP Policy to guide future interventions, adding that aid must now be data-driven, locally anchored, and aligned with long-term recovery plans.
Director of BICD, Leo Angelo Viashima, described the project as a model of responsive aid delivery, noting its inclusion of trauma counselling, dignity kits, and protection services as hallmarks of best-practice humanitarian work.
“This is not just about distributing supplies, it’s about restoring dignity through empathy, intelligence, and coordination,” Viashima said.
Partner organization Ohanyeta Caregivers, represented by Executive Director Dr. Esther Aidoga, confirmed that distributions will begin Tuesday next week with items including 1,500 mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets, jerricans, buckets, soaps, and more.
“By God’s grace, we are ready to deliver timely support directly to those who need it most,” Aidoga stated.
BSEMA, represented by Dr. Donald Komgbenda, pledged strict accountability: “Whatever is given will get to the right people.”
