Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Representing the governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the deputy governor of the state, Dr. Sam Ode PhD has yesterday played host to members of the North-East Ambassadors Group, United Nations agencies, International Organization for Migration (IOM), and other international bodies who are currently in the state for the upcoming launch of the Rapid Response Fund Project, at Government House, Makurdi.
During the meeting, Ode who represented the governor disclosed that the Rapid Response Fund is not just a project but a lifeline for many vulnerable people in our communities, that was “designed to provide immediate relief and to uphold the dignity of our displaced populations by addressing urgent protection and gender-based violence (GBV) issues, improving hygiene conditions and facilitating the closure of IDP camps on economic sites to allow business activities to resume”.
While addressing the Diplomatic delegation on the official launch of the humanitarian response initiative which held today, Alia said “This initiative aligns with our Durable Solutions Plan, ensuring that while we provide temporary relief, our long-term commitment to sustainable solutions for IDPs remains steadfast. Your support in this endeavour is invaluable, and I am confident that together, we can create meaningful and lasting change”.
The Governor therefore, thanked members of the North-East Ambassadors Group for their unwavering commitment to the security, stabilization, and development of Benue State.
Rapid Response Fund is an initiative made possible through the collaboration of IOM and the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (USAID-BHA).
Earlier in his address, leader of the delegation and British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Richard Montgomery said their mission in the state was to lauch the Rapid Response Fund Project as a lifesaving humanitarian response initiative aimed at addressing humanitarian crises in the state, and appreciated the cooperation of the Governor and Government of Benue State towards the initiative.
Following the meeting at Government House, the Deputy Governor led the visiting Ambassadors, UN agencies and other international partners to the IDP camp at Ichwa, in North Bank area of Makurdi where he flagged off the distribution of dignity kits and non food items such as kitchen sets, and household kits, among others, donated by the shelter component of the IOM.