The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), on Monday distributed food and non-food items to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees and other vulnerable population across the state for the month of December.
Flagging off the exercise at the agency’s headquarters in Makurdi, the Executive Secretary of BSEMA, Sir James Aondoakaa Iorpuu said the event is another milestone in the agency’s shared commitment to the welfare and well-being of IDPs across the state, including those in Ikyogen Refugee Camp.
Sir Iorpuu who reaffirmed the commitment of the agency to the well-being of the persons of concern in the state, said “over the past months, Benue-SEMA has taken decisive steps to enhance her emergency response and support systems for IDPs.
“One of key achievements is signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) to provide effective and continuous healthcare services to the displaced population.
“This partnership fills a critical gap left by Medecins Sans Frontieres’ (MSF) exit and ensures that our displaced population continues to receive the medical care they deserve.
“We are also in the process of finalizing MoUs with the Benue Digital Infrastructure Company (BDIC) and the Benue State Bureau of Homeland Security. These partnerships too will equip Benue-SEMA with cutting-edge technology, including a command and control centre for a real-time monitoring, surveillance, and enhanced security management.
“We have also relocated IDPs through partnership with International Organization for Migration (IOM) from Baka, NEPA Quarters, and part of Ichwa camp to the newly established transit camp at Mbayongo along Gbajimba road. This relocation aims to improve the living conditions and enhance the safety and security of the displaced populations while awaiting the soon-to-launch Benue state durable solution”.
While lauding International Organization for Migration (IOM) for recently completing the construction of a water plant at Ortese community to address the long-standing water scarcity in the area, he said, “they also assisted us by constructing 380 shelters in Gbajimba 1 camp and 690 shelters in Gbajimba 11 camp, freeing up schools previously occupied by IDPs and thereby allowing our children to regain access to education”.
The SEMA boss commended the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for supporting the agency with two laptop computers and four motorbikes, noting that the agency had also acquired more new operational vehicles to ensure more efficient service delivery across the camps.
He commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his unwavering support and commitment to the well-being of persons of concern saying his “leadership and vision will continue to inspire our work. We are also deeply grateful to our partners, donors, and all stakeholders who stand with us in this critical mission.
“As we distribute these food and non-food items today, let us remember that beyond these materials lies a shared hope for a better future for our displaced communities. Let us continue to work together to restore dignity, foster resilience, and build lasting solutions for our IDPs”
Items distributed to persons concern included 2,225 bags of 25kg rice, 1,395 bags of 10kg beans, 2,205 bags of 50kg maize, 836 bags of garri, 2,894 cartons of noodles, 1445 bags of sugar, 186 bags of salt and 197 gallons of palm oil among other items.
