Caritas Nigeria and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency hosted a high-level delegation comprising Ambassadors from four European Union Member States, namely Sweden, Spain, Belgium, and Finland. The delegation was accompanied by the UNHCR Country Representative, Arjun Jain; the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), Sir James Iorpuu; and the Director-General of Benue State Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbanwuan, on a field mission to selected project sites across Benue State.
The visit provided the delegation with an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the humanitarian assistance and protection activities being implemented by UNHCR through Caritas Nigeria in support of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities in Yelwata, Makurdi, Tyo Mu, and Tatyough.
During the mission, the delegation interacted directly with affected populations, community leaders, Peace Committees, and humanitarian partners. Discussions focused on key areas including community-based protection, peacebuilding and social cohesion, the PROTECT Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) system, shelter support, livelihood initiatives, and the pursuit of durable solutions for displaced communities.
The mission also enabled the delegation to assess progress achieved so far while identifying ongoing challenges, such as insecurity, limited access to basic services, rising construction costs, and the lack of functional health and educational facilities in Tatyough.
The visit underscores the importance of sustained collaboration among government institutions, humanitarian organizations, development partners, and community structures to strengthen protection mechanisms, foster peaceful coexistence, enhance sustainable livelihood opportunities, and advance durable solutions for displaced and host communities across Benue State.
