US meets Alia over Benue humanitarian crisis
The United States Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, on Tuesday, visited the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, over the humanitarian crisis in his state.
The governor received the delegation, led by Senior Humanitarian Advisor to USBHA, Patrick Robinson, at the Government House in Makurdi.
Benue State is battling with banditry and farmer-herder clashes, which has led to the killing of many and displacement of millions of people.
Alia told the delegation that over 1.5 million displaced people in the state lacked access to potable water and other necessities of life.
He said in addition to insecurity, resulting from herdsmen attacks, kidnapping, and banditry, Benue had also been badly hit by natural disasters.
Alia said, “Benue State has continued to experience intense conflicts and tensions as a result of herder/farmers clashes, kidnapping, and banditry, which have disrupted the agrarian lives of our people.
“insecurity is yielding a growing concern in our state. However, our administration is committed to finding lasting solutions to these disputes and fostering peaceful coexistence among all residents in the state.
Towards this end, we decided to adopt the three Rs: Reconciliation, Rehabilitation, and Rebuilding in the affected areas of the state.
“My administration is working assiduously to resettle the Internally Displaced Persons back to their ancestral homes.”
The governor appreciated the officials of the United States Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and the International Organisation for Migrants for coming to the aid of the state.
He also called on other development partners to support his administration and develop a comprehensive template to bring a lasting solution to the humanitarian crisis in the state.
Earlier, in his remarks, the leader of the USBHA delegation, Robinson, said they were in Benue State to assess the humanitarian situation and to see areas they could assist in resolving the crisis.
He said the USBHA had been intervening in humanitarian crises in the North-East since 2016, particularly in Borno State, adding that the agency had also moved its intervention to the North-West.
He assured the governor of USBHA’s commitment to helping Benue State to address its humanitarian crisis.
