Over two million Benue people are IDPs – Ortom

Benue State Government has appealed to United Nation’s high delegation to convey Federal Government’s neglect to pay attention to the humanitarian crisis in Benue and the dire condition of the over two million Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs in the state.

The Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Dr. Emmanuel Shior made the appeal yesterday, 6th September, 2023 when he received in his office the United Nations high delegation who were in the state to assess the humanitarian challenges in the state.

He expressed sadness that the Federal Government had abandoned the state with the IDPs “who were displaced by armed Fulani herdsmen, in flagrant violation of global conventions on the right to life and human dignity.”

He noted that the humanitarian crisis in the state occasioned by armed herdsmen attacks in the last five years and the influx of over ten thousand Cameroonian Refugees had overstretched the lean resources of the State Government.

Dr. Shior recounted that “thousands of lives have been lost, homes, schools, markets, churches and health centers destroyed with over two million IDPs residing in seven official and eleven unofficial camps and host communities across the state.”

He however, lauded humanitarian partners and agencies including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Doctors Without Borders, MSF, International Organization for Migration, IOM, International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, Civil Society Organisations, the media and other International and Local NGOs for their interventions in bringing succour to the Benue IDPs.

He said the situation that has lasted for many years had received skeletal assistance from the Federal Government as it keeps housing more than two hundred humanitarian agencies in the Northeast while less than ten are allowed to be involved in the Benue State humanitarian challenge.

The Executive Secretary urged them to assist in conveying the Benue humanitarian challenge to the Federal Government that has been redundant over the issue, expressing hope that their coming would help present the reality on ground to the world.

He reiterated the commitment of the Governor Samuel Ortom led government in the state to continue to strengthen, support, and enforce all measures in curtailing the situation.

Earlier, the JE older persons, Human Rights, United Nations, Mrs. Claudia Matle said they were in Benue State to meet with Humanitarian Stakeholders and interface with the IDPs in order to have first-hand information as regards to the humanitarian challenge, especially as it concerns the managing of the aged people in the camps with a view to enhance their living condition and give them hope.

She said to foster healthy ageing and improve the lives of older people and their families and communities, fundamental shifts will is required, not only in the actions we take but in how we think about age and ageing.

The UN official who was accompanied by her assistant, Human Rights Officer, United Nations, Miss Claire Mathelliè promised to report exactly the information gotten and what her eyes have seen and sympathized with Governor Samuel Ortom and the Benue people over the perennial crisis.

The UN officials also met with the stakeholders and were led to the camp by the Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Dr. Emmanuel Shior and Prof. Magdalyne Dura, Special Adviser to the Governor on MDGs and SDGs to see things for themselves.