‘19,000 displaced’ — NGO distributes relief items to victims of conflict in Plateau

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has distributed relief items to residents in Mangu LGA of Plateau state.

The relief materials were disbursed to locals, especially women and children affected by the conflict.

Mangu LGA in Plateau has witnessed a spike in gunmen attacks who raid, abduct, and kill residents.

The house of representatives has made motions, calling upon the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to supply relief materials to the victims.

In July, amid the burgeoning assaults in the north-central state, Taoreed Lagbaja, chief of army staff (COAS), launched a special military operation, Hakorin Damisa IV, to tackle the insecurity in Mangu LGA of the state.

‘ABOUT 19,000 PEOPLE DISPLACED’

IRC said the spiralling attacks have displaced about 19,000 people, including women and children.

The group said women, widows and children were prioritised in distributing the items to over 500 households.

In a statement, IRC said the crisis has “displaced nearly 19,000 individuals, including children and widows, and has severely impacted their access to necessities such as food, shelter, and sanitation”.

Speaking with journalists during the distribution of relief items in Mangu LGA, Alosa Atiko, IRC Nigeria emergency team co-lead, said beyond providing non-food and dignity items, the organisation is also involved in infrastructure projects, construction of boreholes and toilets to ensure improved hygiene and health for the displaced population.

“We are constructing one solar-powered borehole and rehabilitating one non-functional motorized borehole to assist the IDPs in Mangu with their water needs,” Alosa said.

“The IRC is also constructing four latrines with five compartments in different clusters for the IDPs.”

Iliya Shehu, IRC’s economic recovery and development (ERD) manager, said the group’s intervention encompasses unconditional cash transfers to benefit an additional 500 households, with each household receiving about N35,000 per month for the 3-month intervention period.

Danladi Denna, district head in Mangu, expressed gratitude for the provisions to the people.

In September, Babatunde Ojei, IRC country director in Nigeria, announced an emergency relief funding package of $250,000 for Plateau.

“Plateau state has endured a long history of deadly conflicts and the current crisis has witnessed a distressing surge in casualties, property destruction, and mass displacement. In just over four months since the conflict began, almost 200 have been killed, with many more individuals unaccounted for,” he had said.

“These attacks have impacted 48 communities, some of which remain inaccessible, impeding accurate victim assessments.”