Benue IDPs Cry Out Over Starvation and Deplorable Living Conditions…Displaced persons in Benue State are crying out for help over the harsh conditions they are facing in various camps, following a recent deadly attack on their community.
Survivors, now seeking refuge in overcrowded camps and makeshift shelters, have described the feeding situation and living conditions as unbearable and life-threatening.
Many of the displaced persons, who fled from the Yelewata community and surrounding areas after armed men attacked their homes, have been forced to live in open spaces, uncompleted buildings, and tattered tents made from sacks and mosquito nets.
Families who escaped the violence with nothing now face a fresh battle for survival as they contend with severe hunger, disease, and poor shelter.
Several displaced persons lamented that the food rations they receive are grossly inadequate.
The supplies meant to last a month often barely sustain them for a week. In some camps, it was revealed that the last food distribution occurred months ago.
At the Ichwa camp, a mother, Akwacha Mary, shared her ordeal, saying that the small measure of rice, beans, and garri given to each family only lasts for a few days.
According to her, families are forced to skip meals or share their meager portions among many, resulting in children crying from hunger most nights.
The camp chairman in Logo, Daniel Lado, also confirmed that most families can only afford to eat once or twice a day.
He explained that the situation has worsened in recent months, with food supplies now irregular and insufficient.
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He described the daily struggle of parents who are unable to provide food for their children, many of whom now suffer from malnutrition and related health problems.
Beyond the food crisis, the survivors decried the appalling living conditions in the camps. Overcrowding, lack of privacy, and poor sanitation have exposed them to serious health risks.
Many of the tents, hastily erected using tarpaulin, nylon bags, and pieces of cloth, are now torn and can no longer protect the occupants from the harsh weather.
Some families sleep in classrooms and abandoned structures that offer little comfort.
The unsanitary environment has led to the outbreak of diseases such as malaria, cholera, diarrhoea, and stomach ulcers.
Several children have reportedly died from diarrhoea and other preventable illnesses in the past few weeks.
A camp official in Logo painfully described how the camp has become a burial ground for children due to the poor healthcare and dire living situation.
Women and mothers in the camps appear to be the worst hit, as some of them have developed ulcers from prolonged periods of starvation.
They confessed to skipping meals frequently to allow their children to have something to eat, even if just once a day.
One mother tearfully recounted how she had gone days without eating just to ensure her infant had something to survive on.
The displaced persons are pleading with the Benue State government, the federal authorities, and humanitarian organizations to urgently intervene.
They stressed that their situation is now beyond what they can endure and that without immediate and sustained support, more lives would be lost to hunger and disease.
Many of the survivors also called for long-term solutions that would enable them to rebuild their lives.
They expressed a desire to return to their communities but said this could only happen if security is restored and they are provided with adequate shelter and food to start again.
For now, life in the camps remains a daily struggle for survival.
Hunger, disease, and unsafe living conditions continue to define the reality of Benue’s displaced persons, who are desperately hoping for help before it is too late.
