As part of measures to curb criminality and other security challenges at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, an Interfaith Forum of Muslim and Christian Women Association under the aegis of Women’s Interfaith Council (WIC) has installed 10 solar powered lights in and around Ortese camp in Guma local government area of Benue State.
At the occasion which was held in the Ortese IDP camp yesterday, WIC also donated 60 dozen of exercise books to children in the camp and planted 50 economic trees.
Explaining the motive behind their action, the executive director WIC, Sister Veronica Onyeanisi, said the installation of the solar lights is expected to avert the risk of IDPs being exposed to reptiles and other harmful creeping creatures that are synonymous with the camp.
According to her, the association has commenced the plantation of 50 different economic trees at the camp among them are mangoes, oranges and palm trees, to improve the environmental and ecosystem at the camp.
She said, “Apart from protecting the environment, the trees that were planted were economic trees that would bring about financial benefits to the immediate community, even after the IDPs have left the camp to their ancestral homes.”
Onyeanisi stressed the need for the IDPs to take care of their environment, otherwise it would consume them, just as she cited the instance of the recent flood that wreaked havoc in the state.
While appealing to the IDPs to protect the solar light and ensure that they water the plants, the executive director explained that WIC may not be able to do all that the IDPs need at this point in time, she pledged to continue to support the LG authorities in meeting the yearnings of the displaced persons.
Speaking on the theme “Environment, our common home, Care for it”, she advised the IDPs to plant at least one tree a day; and ask them to use less nylon/cellophane bags; promote reusable shopping bags; say no to felling of trees among other issues.
Also, WIC Consultant, Tarsoo Ade said all the projects were interim measures to make the camps habitable for the IDPs saying the installation of the solar lights would go a long way to curb criminality at the camp.
In his remarks, the district head of Nyiev, Bernard Shawa appreciated the initiative of WIC to install solar lights and also plant trees at the IDPs camp.
A member of the community, Elijah Mom also appreciated earlier contributions by WIC in the area of skill acquisition as well as the initiative to plant trees, install solar lights and donate exercise books to pupils at the camp.
Earlier, the chairman of Guma LGA, Dr Mike Uba who commended the WIC leadership for the initiative expressed the confidence that the issue of herdsmen attacks in the area would soon be a thing of the past.
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