Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has expressed concern over the increasing humanitarian crisis in the state, disclosing that over 1,000 households have been displaced by recent attacks on communities between December 29, 2024, and today.
The governor revealed this while hosting officials from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) at the government house in Makurdi on Thursday.
Governor Alia painted a bleak picture of the situation, stating that 500,182 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are scattered across 26 camps and 185 host communities in the state.
He emphasized that these displaced individuals face critical challenges, including inadequate shelter, poor access to clean water and sanitation, insufficient healthcare services, and a lack of robust protection mechanisms.
He explained that these hardships have led to harmful coping strategies, such as early marriages, transactional activities, and reduced food intake, which have disproportionately impacted women, children, and persons with disabilities.
Despite the persistent challenges, the governor highlighted his administration’s efforts to mitigate the plight of displaced persons.
He revealed that over 6,273 vulnerable individuals from 15 IDP camps have been enrolled in the Benue State Health Insurance Scheme to ensure they receive essential healthcare services.
The state government has also allocated more than 70 hectares of land and facilitated the construction of shelters, restoring dignity to 5,600 displaced households.
He credited these achievements to the collaboration with international partners like IOM and USAID – BHA.
Governor Alia expressed regret over the continued attacks on communities, which have hampered efforts to stabilize the situation.
Citing the latest report from the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), he confirmed that over 1,000 households have been displaced in less than two weeks.
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the root causes of displacement and working towards sustainable solutions for affected citizens.
He concluded by emphasizing the need for harmonious coexistence between host communities and displaced persons while seeking long-term strategies to resolve the crisis.
Governor Alia’s remarks underscore the urgent need for both national and international support to alleviate the humanitarian impact of violence in Benue State.