NGO builds 200 rooms for IDPs

A Benue Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Network (BENGONET), said it had constructed 200 room apartments for Internally Displaced Persons IDPs in the state.

The NGO's chairperson, Mrs Rachael Tyonzuul, made this disclosure in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Makurdi.

According to her, the organisation is concerned with the plight of the displaced persons to provide the facility.

She said the organisation had been supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Nigeria (UNHCR) and the Benue Government.

Tyonzuul said the UNHCR provided N25 million as counterpart funding for the project, the State Government gave N10 million while the remaining cost was borne by the organisation.

She said that the facility would take care of both the security and environmental hazards which had confronted the displaced persons.

The chairperson disclosed that other NGOs were already partnering with them to promote the wellbeing of the displaced persons in the state.

Tyonzuul said that an Abuja based NGO, OMEP, had provided beddings and food items for the displaced persons too.

She said the organisation intended to convert two blocks of the apartments for a temporary school to cater for the needs of children of the displaced persons.

Also speaking with NAN, the Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Boniface Ortese, disclosed that 10 people had died from the flood waters in the state.

NAN recalls that NIMET had predicted upsurge of flood in the state and advised evacuation of people living in flood prone areas.

Ortese explained that the victims died from the overflow of the Kereke stream during a downpour that lasted for three days.

He also disclosed that farms and valuable property had been destroyed while many families were rendered homeless.

To avert further disaster, Ortese said the government had set aside land in Agan village to construct temporary shelter for the displaced.

Ortese also said that the Presidential Committee on Flooding and Rehabilitation was already constructing houses in the state to accommodate the victims.

He said the project was being executed through the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).

Already, he said 500 people had indicated interest to be relocated, adding that "we are ready to protect the people whenever there is flooding".