Benue crisis: ActionAid, Plan Int’ spend £400,000 on IDPs

ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), Plan International, Christian Aid, and Start Network have said they spent £400,000 to support internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benue State.

The Country Director of AAN, Andrew Mamedu; Country Director of Plan International, Charles Usie, and others disclosed this in Makurdi at the weekend at a joint press conference.

They also called for local and international assistance for 1.4 million people displaced by heightened insecurity in the state.

Mamedu, represented by the Action Aid Manager for Humanitarian Resilience, David Habba, said the spate of insecurity in the state is now worse than what is happening in the North East and the North West.

“With what is happening in Benue State, people may not have villages to retire to when they grow old. There is also the loss of culture that comes with it. If we fail to act now, I’m afraid that by 2030 we will have lost a generation and it may take about 50 years to recover from it.

“The toll of these conflicts on the lives and livelihoods of ordinary people cannot be overstated. Families have been torn apart, homes destroyed and futures shattered. The trauma and suffering endured by those affected are profound and long-lasting, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable peace-building and conflict resolution efforts,” he said.

While urging the humanitarian community to prioritise Benue State, due to the pressing need of the people, he urged the government to address the underlying causes of the crisis and ensure peace in the state.

Also, the Director of Programme Quality and Influencing at Plan International, Helen Idiong, who represented Mr Usie, said through funding from Start Fund Network, they have provided support to displaced persons from Apa, Agatu, Kwande, Logo and Ukum local government areas of the state.

She said in the last 45 days, 3,806 households comprising 26,179 people have received unconditional cash transfers of N50,000 or N60,000 while 3,506 households of 24,297 people received non-food items; 1,100 girls and women received dignity kits and 2,777 people received psychological first aid.