Thediggernews
Makurdi: The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Gautier Mignot, visited the victims of the Yelewata attacks on Tuesday and pledged more support for them.
Mignot visited them at their temporary camp, International Market in Makurdi, accompanied by Ms Cristian Munduate, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative in Nigeria.
Mignot said their visit became necessary following the magnitude of the humanitarian crises occasioned by the June 13th attack.
The envoy said they were in the state to offer their support, sympathy and solidarity to the Benue government and the victims.
“We must meet the victims, express our support, sympathy and solidarity to them and listen to their testimonies.
“We will meet with the state authorities and see how we can contribute to the peacebuilding here in Benue.
“In the EU, peace only lasts when built on dialogue and mutual understanding between communities. We will try to bring our modest contributions to the state,” he said.
Mignot further disclosed that they would launch a social protection programme in the state on Wednesday, June 25.
Munduate, in her remarks, pledged to support the Yelewata community in rebuilding its primary healthcare facilities, schools, and water supply.
The representative said that from their interactions with the victims, it was clear that they wanted to return home and continue working on their farms.
“The community people want to return to their homes and move ahead. They want to work on their farms and land. They want their children to be in school, which is commendable.
“Because the easy way would be for them to stay in camp, and maybe their lives would be easy, but no, they want to go; they want to continue working, which speaks highly about them.
“As for UNICEF, we will try to see the situation, all these destructions in the community, how we can support primary healthcare facilities, the condition of schools and their water source,” she said.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Deborah Aber, commended the EU and UNICEF for all their support since the beginning of humanitarian crises in the state.
Aber said the victims have indicated their interest in returning to their homes, and the government will support them in this endeavour.
“The government will do all it takes to ensure they can return safely to their ancestral homes to continue with their farms.
“It pains me that when they have crops on their farms, they are displaced at the peak of the farming season. They also get psychological support at the camps, which is very important.
“You can imagine a woman losing all family members, and so they are getting that here, and to an extent, it is good for them,” he said.
