A non-governmental organisation under the aegis of Christian Aid Nigeria has unveiled a ₦500 million cash transfer programme for survivors of Benue State massacre taking refuge at the Daudu Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp 2.
This is even as Chinelo Mokwe, the project lead for the Start Fund Project in Benue State and a Christian Aid programme officer, explained that the financial assistance would be directly disbursed to 1,500 households through cash transfers, with each selected family receiving N109,000.
According to her, “Christian Aid will facilitate the opening of personal bank accounts for all the beneficiaries to ensure efficient and secure distribution of the funds.”
She said, “This intervention is funded by the Start Fund Network, which marks a significant commitment by Christian Aid to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable populations, which builds upon the organisation’s extensive experience in delivering immediate life-saving assistance across various humanitarian crises worldwide.
“Beyond monetary aid, the team lead said the intervention encompasses the distribution of essential non-food items. These include mattresses, bathroom and washing soaps, detergent, and mosquito nets. Furthermore, each household will receive dignity kits, thoughtfully assembled to include personal hygiene necessities such as a wrapper, towel, slippers, sanitary pads, and pampers to address critical needs that are sometimes overlooked in humanitarian responses.”
She disclosed that at present, Christian Aid is intervening in 19 States across Nigeria, adding that globally, the organisation operates in 29 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, which demonstrates the international presence and commitment to tackling poverty and injustice on a global scale.
In his response, the camp manager for Daudu IDPs Camp Two, Noel Numbe who spoke on behalf of the executive secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr James Iorpuu, lamented the growing number of IDPs following the Yelewata massacre, acknowledging that the relief materials would bring succour to the displaced persons.
He also commended Temitope Fashola, country director of Christian Aid Nigeria, for her leadership in repositioning the organisation, which has evidently fostered the confidence of the Start Fund Network to provide such funding to the IDPs.
Earlier, the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, commended Christian Aid Nigeria for the launch of ₦500 million to be distributed to some of the Internally Displaced Persons to cushion the effects of their hardship.
The governor who was represented by the director general, Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD) Doctor Leonard Viashima, also expressed gratitude to the Country Director of Christian Aid Nigeria and the funders Start Network and the implementing partner for their intervention and urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the cash and other relief materials given to them.
He said, “This critical initiative is set to provide vital support to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benue State, particularly those affected by the recent devastating armed herdsmen attacks in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area.”
