Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has reiterated his commitment to improve security, health and water supply to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps across the state.
He said this has become very neccessary, even the government is intensifying efforts for their final return to their ancestral homes.
The Commissioner for Humanitarian, Disaster Management, Mr Aondowase Kunde, made the disclosure on Thursday during the Benue State Durable Solutions Frame Work Development and Action Planning workshop for IDPs in Benue State.
Mr Kunde, who is also the Chairman, Task Force on Durable Solutions to the return of IDPs in Benue State, noted that a survey has already been carried out to dig hand wells at Ortese IDP Camp where boreholes could not yield water.
He said that the collapsed Dam at Ortese will be repaired to address the shortage of water to the community.
Mr Kunde further said information has been collated from IDPs that lost their seed yams and other valuables to be addressed at the approximate time, and called on people to be supportive at all times.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Prof. Moses Ogbaji, said the committee met over five times with recommendations on how best to find a last solution for the return of the displaced to their ancestral homes.
He stated that, despite challenges, some IDPs are better than prisoners since they have the freedom to move in and out of the camps at will.
According to him, cluster settlements will go a long way in preventing invasion by herdsmen in Benue communities.
