By isaac kertyo, makurdi
The governor of benue state, rev fr hyacinth alia, has commended the united nations high commissioner for refugees for mobilizing resources for refugees and internally displaced persons, idps, in the state.
The governor who gave the commendation at the government house, makurdi, when a delegation from unhcr paid him a courtesy visit, stressed that their plight is a matter of urgent concern to his administration.
Governor alia, expressed optimism that the visit would increase the already existing bond between the government and the unhcr, aimed at tackling humanitarian crisis in the state.
In a statement by the chief press secretary, tersoo kula, the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to addressing the needs of the idps. He appreciated the un for setting up offices for unhcr and the international organizations for migration (iom) in the state.
The statement reads in part: “Although he regretted the security challenges in benue, the governor however, reassured of his administration’s resolve to continue to work together with the security agencies to ensure the safety of everyone living in the state.”
He pinpointed that the governor’s desire is to “Restore the lives and livelihoods along makurdi to kadarko routes, and the deep fields in guma, kwande, gwer, logo, agatu local government areas where displacement and insecurity have severely impacted.”
The governor, noted that government has taken steps to support humanitarian efforts by establishing the ministry of humanitarian affairs and disaster management, bureau of international cooperation and development(bicd), to serve as a gateway agency for donor relations and resource mobilization for mdas.
Earlier in his remarks, leader of the delegation and unhcr’s assistant high commissioner for operations, raouf mazou, commended the governor for responding to humanitarian crisis in the state, and for providing shelter for the cameroonian refugees at ikyogen among others.
