Benue State allocates N160m for IDP snake bite treatments

The Benue State Government has allocated over N160 million for the treatment of internally displaced persons (IDPs) suffering from snake bites over a six-month period, as stated by James Iorpuu, the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). This expenditure covers healthcare interventions from March to September and includes arrangements for IDPs to receive treatment at the Benue University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi.

Iorpuu mentioned that despite limited resources, SEMA continues to provide monthly food distributions to IDPs. However, camp leaders expressed concerns regarding irregular food distribution, inadequate shelter, poor sanitation, and limited healthcare support.

They highlighted that food assistance had become inconsistent, with some camps experiencing a four-month gap in distribution. The leaders also emphasized the urgent need for safe return to their ancestral communities, many of which remain unsafe.