By EMMANUEL KUJE, Abuja-
European Union (EU) has pledged €500,000 (approximately N886 million) in humanitarian assistance to address the plight of displaced populations in Benue State, Nigeria, amid a worsening crisis fueled by armed violence.
This is contained in a statement released on Thursday by the Public Affairs Officer for the Politics, Press, and Information Section of the EU Embassy in Abuja, Mrs. Ugo Sokari-George.
The EU announced that the funding, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), will support critical interventions over six months.
“This aid will focus on providing protection, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene, and multi-purpose financial assistance to those in need,” Sokari-George stated.
The statement highlighted the severe impact of escalating violence in Benue, noting that a recent surge in attacks in June 2025 displaced nearly 23,000 people, many of whom were already uprooted previously.
“Conditions in displacement camps are dire, with inadequate shelter, limited access to clean water, and heightened protection risks, especially for women, children, and persons with disabilities,” the EU statement detailed, underscoring the complexity of the humanitarian response.
The EU pointed out that Benue’s protracted crisis, ongoing since 2018, has displaced over 1.5 million people.
“The intensified violence in 2024 and 2025 has resulted in approximately 6,900 deaths and displaced more than 400,000 individuals, making urgent action critical,” the statement added.
As the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid, the EU, alongside its member states, emphasized its commitment to global solidarity.
“Our emergency aid is designed to save lives, alleviate suffering, and uphold the dignity of those affected by crises, whether natural or man-made,” the EU stated.
Through its Brussels headquarters and global network of field offices, the European Commission’s civil protection and humanitarian aid operations provide support to millions of vulnerable people annually, prioritizing those with the greatest needs.
