The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi in Benue State, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, has decried the worsening humanitarian situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in various camps across the state.
Anagbe said the humanitarian crisis was worsening because of the surge of more displaced people from their homes over armed invasion.
The bishop spoke yesterday when he visited the IDP camp in Daudu, in Guma LGA of the state to commemorate the 2022 World Day for the Poor and celebrate Christmas with the IDPs.
Anagbe, who was represented by the Vicar-General Pastoral, Rev Moses Iorapuu, said he visited the camp with the coordinator of Foundation for Justice Development and Peace (FJDP), Reverend Father Remigus Ihyula and his team, to deliver food and non-food items to the IDPs to make them feel a sense of belonging that they are not being neglected.
Amidst N24bn debt, FG criminalises non-remittance of ticket, cargo charges
Electric gel offers hope for difficult-to-treat injuries
On his part, Rev. Ihyula disclosed that the act was instituted by Pope Francis, who in this sixth edition asked the Catholic Church to observe it on the 33rd Sunday of the year to celebrate the poor.
The items given to the IDPs included a cow, 70 bags of 25kg rice, 350 bottles of palm oil, a bale of children’s clothes, containing 1500 pieces, 260 pieces of slippers, clothes for adults, over a 1000 pairs of shoes, bags of garri, dignity and Wash items, and carton of Tura soap among others.
Responding, the representative of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ajir Oliver, thanked the reverend fathers for coming to the aid of the most vulnerable people in the camp.
