EU pays visit to victims of Benue crisis, renders support of €1.5m
EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot met with Yelewata families displaced by conflict at Markurdi IDP camp recently. Photo credit: European Union in Nigeria
EU pays visit to victims of Benue crisis, renders support of €1.5m
The European Union has committed €1.5 million to support victims of the recent crisis in Yelwata, other Internally Displaced Persons in Benue State, and other parts of the country.
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, opened up on this on Tuesday in Abuja at a joint press conference with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
The envoy, while noting that plans are underway to provide durable solutions to those in need of humanitarian assistance, called on public and private institutions to join in addressing humanitarian crises.
Mignot said, “The European Union is a special partner to Nigeria, and in this fast-evolving world—when some partnerships are profoundly reviewed—we want to be a reliable partner, a partner you can count on, a partner that keeps its commitments.
“We are doing this across the board to help the country harness the many opportunities it has for development and prosperity.
“We are also here when it comes to emergencies, and that is why we are coming up with two additional support packages for Benue State.
“The support includes immediate humanitarian action through our humanitarian office, ECHO, with €1.5 million in funding.
“In the long term, we are providing durable solutions—livelihoods, housing—to support the reintegration of IDPs through a project called the Support for Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria project, which was initially not intended to cover Benue State but has now been extended to include it, with €1 million of support.
“We are still working with our partners to implement this project efficiently and quickly and to explore other sources of support, particularly for peacebuilding.”
He also emphasised the need to mobilise domestic resources due to the decline in international assistance.
“It’s difficult to rely on additional support from the international community, which makes domestic mobilisation necessary, from the federal government, state governments, and the private sector, to address the needs and avoid shortages.
“This is a call to action for all sectors in Nigeria to contribute the much-needed resources,” he added.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, revealed that plans are ongoing to create an Anticipatory Response Fund that would address all forms of humanitarian crises.
He explained that the fund would reduce the country’s dependence on donor aid by providing a proactive mechanism for responding to emergencies.
The minister, while commending the EU for the donation, expressed optimism that the contribution and those from other partners would be used to restore the lives and livelihoods of affected communities.
He said, “We will ensure that we rescue every soul that needs to be saved in Nigeria. This funding will go a long way in saving and rebuilding lives.
“The intervention is coming at a critical time, especially in Benue, where livelihoods have been lost, buildings destroyed, and lives cut short. Currently, 810 children are out of school, over 200 children are in IDP camps, and many face the risk of acute malnutrition. More than 100 businesses have been shut down in these communities. These are urgent needs that require immediate response.”
He also disclosed plans to establish an Anticipatory Response Fund to proactively address humanitarian needs.
“We are working toward a permanent funding approach so that by next year, we don’t find ourselves scrambling for resources. An Anticipatory Response Fund will help us respond more effectively. That’s what the ministry is working on—to ensure these challenges are addressed in a sustainable manner.
“We aim to incorporate the Anticipatory Response Fund into the national budget. This should include response plans for malnutrition, displaced communities, and both anticipated and unanticipated disasters. These are critical areas that must be addressed going forward,” he added.
