From Joseph Uchenna, in Makurdi
The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda has said that the attack on Yelwata Community of Benue State which has left over 4000 persons displaced has necessitated a great deal of humanitarian and social development need.
The Minister who said this in Makurdi at the weekend during his visit to assess the level of devastation caused by the attack in which over 200 persons were killed on June 13, 2025 as well as flag off distribution of blended and enriched flour to IDPs in the state, regretted the displacement of large number of children who will be faced with abject hunger, poverty and malnourishment.
He said the Federal Government is particularly concerned about the health of the children, intimating that it secured over 70,000 blended and enriched flour from the Regional food security reserve of ECOWAS to distribute to children in the IDPs Camp to enhance their food nutrition.
The Humanitarian Minister urged the State government to ensure transparent and equitable distribution of the items.
Benue State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Aondowase Kunde disclosed that there are over 33000 malnourished children staying in IDPs in the camp even as he called for intervention from humanitarian partners, spirited individuals and organizations to tackle the situation.