From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
As part of activities to mark the 2024 World Humanitarian Day (WHD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated mama kits to pregnant women at Ortese Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state.
UNICEF, supported by the Canadian government, has facilitated several humanitarian services for IDPs and other vulnerable populations in the state.
Making the donations during the camp visit on Monday, the Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, Juliet Chiluwe said the World Humanitarian Day is significant in recognizing the partnership with the state government and other partners in alleviating the suffering of vulnerable women and children.
She stated that between January 2024 till August, UNICEF have supported immunization in Benue with over 20,000 people reached while over 3000 mama kits have been donated to support safe delivery for children across the state.
Chiluwe, who noted decades of UNICEF partnership with Benue state government said they remains committed to strengthening in ensuring the rights of women and children despite their large number.
She said “UNICEF has been key in making sure that the children are immunized. We have supported immunization and so far from January to date, we have supported over 20,000 people in mobile outreach services, we have provided over 3000 mama kits to support safe delivery for children.
“We are also supporting the IDP camps in the state with safe clean water and providing solar motorized boreholes among others. UNICEF is also ensuring that every Benue child is registered. We are partnering with the state to ensure that children born in IDP camps are registered through our birth registration initiatives and that they do not miss out on school registration.”
She expressed joy that the organization is recording the desired impact in Benue saying “we have seen significant changes in demand for vaccines. On nutrition, we had a lot of children who were malnourished but we have seen a lot of changes, through awareness session, women are now able to breastfeed their children and the numbers for severe malnourished children are now diminishing.”
She lamented challenges of both human and financial resources saying the biggest challenge impeding the effort of humanitarian workers is that of lack of peace and security.
She appreciated the Governor of Benue state, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, for his efforts saying through his leadership, UNICEF were not only able to attain the theme for this year “Act for Humanity,” but also to unsure the safety and support for women and children.
One of the beneficiaries, Angela Agahe appreciated UNICEF for the mama kits expressing joy that she would not have to buy another one during her delivery.
“I appreciate UNICEF on behalf of my fellow pregnant women. If I have to get it in the market, I will spend over N10,000.”
The camp chairman of Ortese IDP camp, Mr Imbila Samuel, also appreciated UNICEF for the continuous support to occupants of the camp especially women and children as he said over 30 women were currently pregnant at the camp and needed such intervention urgently.
Earlier, UNICEF Chief and other staff members joined officials of the federal and state government from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and other United Nations (UN) partner agencies; IOM, UNHCR, WHO, FJDP, NCFRMI, USAID Rapid Response Fund, among others on a walk, which commenced from Government House to the State Assembly complex, to commemorate the World Humanitarian Day.
The State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Aondowase Kunde urged the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Aondona Dajoh to help pass the durable solutions act which is before the house.
The Commissioner who decried attacks on humanitarian workers both in the state, country and elsewhere noted that 591 aid workers were victims of attacks in 2023 alone.
He said “Mr Speaker several of our colleagues have been killed, maimed, kidnapped or violated in the course of acting for humanity especially in the North East Region of Nigeria.
“World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity for us to recognize the sacrifices and contributions of humanitarian workers who risk their lives to assist others. It’s a day to advocate for the safety and security of aid workers and to highlight the importance of humanitarian efforts in alleviating suffering.”
Kunde prayed the assembly to consider a 10 percent allocation of the state upcoming budget to enable the state Governor support the implementation of the durable solutions in the State come 2025 while he applauded the UN agencies especially UNICEF for their support in health care delivery adding that the organization is rendering support in nine IDP across the state.
Responding, the Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, who was represented by the House Majority Leader, Hon. Saater Tiseer, assured of the Assembly’s readiness to give support in alleviating humanitarian needs in the state.
He said the house has passed 19 laws in the last one year with three of them, the Benue Investment promotion law, law to establish Benue Youth Development Agency as well as the Benue State Civil Protection Law, all targeting at addressing humanitarian crisis in the state.
While pledging that the assembly will look into the ones still on their table, Tiseer said the implementation of the three laws will help in solving humanitarian issues in the state.
The 2024 World Humanitarian Day celebration was organized by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in conjunction with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and all affiliated agencies.