Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
Determined to advance sustainable progress and alleviate the suffering of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State, a delegation led by Sir James Iorpuu of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), and Leo-Angelo Viashima, the Director General of the Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD), met with Ms. Paola Pace, Chief of Mission at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at the IOM – UN Migration Headquarters in Abuja.
While at the Chief of Mission, their discussion centered on addressing the critical humanitarian challenges facing Benue State, particularly in the Local Government Areas of Agatu, Kwande, Gwer West, and Logo.
The focus included the urgent need for expanded support and sustainable interventions to address the needs of over 500, 000 IDPs in the state.
Mr. Iorpuu highlighted Benue SEMA’s ongoing efforts to assess the gaps in IDP care and the pressing need for humanitarian resources even as it stressed the importance of swift and coordinated actions to ensure lasting impact.
While Benue State’s officials led on resource mobilization, BICD was actively seeking additional funding to bolster response efforts and broaden the scope of sustainable assistance.
In his comment, Viashima emphasized that increased international support would be instrumental in delivering immediate relief to IDPs as needs like shelter, food security, healthcare, and essential services. would be provided
Viashima noted that such contributions would lay the groundwork for durable solutions, supporting IDPs in rebuilding their lives and securing long-term resilience within their communities.
Responding, Ms. Paola Pace underscored IOM’s commitment to collaborating with Benue State Government to provide both immediate humanitarian aid and to strengthen local systems for sustainable development.
She appreciated BSEMA and BICD for their proactive approaches and reaffirmed IOM’s support for Benue State’s initiatives in humanitarian assistance and recovery.
This partnership clearly aims at not only to meet the immediate needs of the most vulnerable populations in Benue but also to empower local communities, ensuring a pathway to a future where all residents could thrive with dignity and resilience.
