On Monday, the Benue government distributed relief materials to internally displaced persons and other vulnerable people.

Performing the ceremony, James Iorpuu, the executive secretary of Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said those at the Ikyogen Refugee Camp, orphanages, and school for the gifted would also benefit from the exercise.

Mr Iorpuu said Governor Hyacinth Alia was resolved to meet the urgent needs of displaced families and individuals and ensure that no one was left behind in the journey towards recovery and stability.

He said Benue-SEMA had taken decisive steps to enhance her emergency response and support systems for IDPs over the past months.

Mr Iorpuu said the agency would distribute 2,225 bags of 25kg rice, 1,395 bags of 10kg beans, 2,205 bags of maize, and 836 bags of garri to the beneficiaries. Other items included 2,894 cartons of Indomie noodles, 1,445 bags of sugar, 186 bags of salt and 197 gallons of palm oil.

“One of our key achievements is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) to provide effective and continuous healthcare services to our IDPs.

“This partnership fills the 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 finalising 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 Center for real-time monitoring, surveillance, and enhanced security management,” he said.

Mr Iorpuu said the agency has relocated IDPs through her partner, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), from Baka, NEPA Quarters, and parts of Ichwa camps to the newly established transit camp at Mbayongo on Gbajimba Road.

“They also assisted us by constructing 380 shelters in Gbajimba 1 Camp and 690 shelters in Gbajimba Il Camp, freeing up schools previously occupied by IDPs and thereby allowing our children to regain access to education.

“Worth also mentioning is UNHCR. They have remained one of our strongest pillars. Beyond their continuous support, they have recently provided four motorbikes and two laptop computers to enhance our field operations, ensuring efficient service delivery across all camps,” he said.

The SEMA scribe further said that the agency had acquired new operational vehicles to ensure more efficient distribution of food and non-food items.

He said that in response to the devastating impact of recent floods in Makurdi, Benue, SEMA had distributed relief materials to the affected communities, providing much-needed support to help them rebuild their lives.

(NAN)