Benue Govt, IOM to strengthen support for IDPs

The Benue State Government has said it will collaborate with the International Organization on Migration, IOM, to strengthen support for the 500,000 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the state.

This was disclosed on Thursday by the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, James Iorpuu, in Makurdi.

He said the agency led by him and the Director General of the Bureau for International Cooperation and Development ,BICD, Leo-Angelo Viashima, had met with Chief of Mission at the International Organization for Migration, IOM, Ms. Paola Pace at the IOM, UN Migration Headquarters, in Abuja where the decision to advance sustainable progress and alleviate the suffering of IDPs across the state was arrived at.

Iorpuu said they have concluded plans to address paramount challenges facing displaced persons in four local government areas of Agatu, Kwande, Gwer West, and Logo.

He said: “The focus included the urgent need for expanded support and sustainable interventions to address the needs of over 500, 000 IDPs in the state.”

Iorpuu underscored efforts by the agency to streamline the gaps in IDP care and the urgent need for humanitarian resources.

He said the BICD is actively seeking additional funding to bolster response efforts and broaden the scope of sustainable assistance.

Iorpuu said such effort noted would lay the groundwork for durable solutions, support IDPs in rebuilding their lives and securing long-term resilience within their community.

In a remark, Paola Pace said IOM’s is committed to collaborate with the Benue state government to provide both immediate humanitarian aid and strengthen local systems for sustainable development.

She commended Benue SEMA and BICD for their proactive approach and reaffirmed IOM’s support for the state’s initiatives in humanitarian assistance and recovery.

Benue Govt, IOM to strengthen support for IDPs