The Chief of Field Services at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Judith Léveillé, on Wednesday visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at the International Market in Makurdi, Benue State, to assess the organization’s interventions at the camp. Léveillé, who said she has been following the situations in Benue since September 2024, expressed her appreciation for the efforts made so far to assist the children and women living in the camp.
During her visit, Léveillé interacted with over 3,000 displaced persons and inspected facilities, including toilets, a safe space for adolescent girls and women, and a health center. She also met with officials from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to discuss education needs, noting that young people and children want education, but it is currently not being offered due to funding challenges.
Léveillé thanked donors for their support and acknowledged the commitment of the Benue State government, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and sister agencies, including UNHCR, IOM, UNFPA, UNDP, and UN Women, for their contributions to the efforts.
“We are not working in isolation; it’s about bringing different players together for the benefit of children,” Léveillé said, emphasizing the need for increased attention to the needs of the most deprived population in Benue State, including protection, education, health, and sanitation.
The UNICEF official participated in the distribution of hygiene kits to one hundred (100) girls facilitated by her organization, highlighting the importance of distributing hygiene kits, which not only brings dignity to displaced people but also encourages good practices and access to clean water and sanitation.
The UNICEF Chief called on stakeholders to strengthen their attention to the needs of the displaced population, emphasizing that the organization will continue to have permanent presence in Benue State to continue providing support.
Patricia Suswam, Executive Director of JASPI Health and Gender Development Initiative, one of the implementing partners explained that UNICEF is providing essential kits, including buckets, kettles, reusable pads, and nail cutters, to support girls in managing their lives.
Beneficiaries, including Deborah Orya and Shagba Destiny, expressed their gratitude, saying the items would help them maintain their personal hygiene and support their families.
Orya said, “I feel profoundly happy because I never imagined I would receive such wonderful items. Thanks to UNICEF, I am now in possession of these precious gifts, and they’ are bringing me immense joy and gladness. I was lacking some essentials, but now I will have them at my disposal.”
Destiny noted that, “These items will be a great help to me. I will no longer need to spend my money on soap, and the bucket will serve me for a long time. The detergent will aid me in laundry, and the rope will be useful for drying my clothes. The sanitary pad and underwear will provide me with comfort and security during my menstrual cycle. We would be grateful if other NGOs could also provide assistance, as it would greatly benefit us.”
One hundred girls at the International Market IDP camp benefited from the items, and similar distributions will be made in 13 other camps, with 100 girls per camp receiving support.
