By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
Christian Aid Nigeria, with support from the Start Fund Network, has launched a N500 million humanitarian intervention in Benue State to assist internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by violent herder attacks, especially in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area.
Speaking during the flag-off of the initiative at Daudu II IDP Camp in Guma, Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by Dr. Leonard Viashima, Director General of the Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD), on Thursday lauded Christian Aid for its consistent support.
He also commended implementing partners and funders for prioritising the needs of displaced persons in the state.
The intervention, which targets 1,500 households in three camps across Makurdi and Guma LGAs, includes direct cash transfers of N109,000 to each beneficiary family.
In addition to cash support, beneficiaries will receive non-food relief items such as mattresses, mosquito nets, bathing and washing soaps, detergents, and dignity kits containing essentials like wrappers, towels, slippers, sanitary pads, and baby diapers.
Chinelo Mokwe, Christian Aid’s Programme Officer and Project Lead for the Start Fund in Benue, explained that the organisation had assisted beneficiaries in opening personal bank accounts to ensure safe and efficient disbursement of funds.
She noted that Christian Aid’s humanitarian footprint spans 19 states across Nigeria, adding that the organisation operates in 29 countries globally, including regions in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Camp Manager of Daudu II, Mr. Noel Numbe, who represented the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. James Iorpu, thanked Christian Aid for the intervention, describing it as a timely response to the increasing needs of displaced families in the wake of recent attacks.
The Country Director of Christian Aid Nigeria, Temitope Fashola, was commended for steering the organisation toward impactful partnerships, which culminated in the Start Network’s financial support for this initiative.
Also acknowledged was Ohonyeta Care Givers, whose field-level engagement helped spotlight the plight of Yelewata victims and facilitated the intervention.
A state government representative praised the quality of the distributed items and emphasised that while emergency aid is crucial, the long-term goal remains the resettlement of displaced persons back to their ancestral homes.
Governor Alia had earlier pledged a transition plan from temporary camps to permanent housing.
Meanwhile, the intervention also integrates psychosocial support for victims of trauma and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) campaigns to curb the spread of disease and improve health conditions in the camps.
