The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed that it is currently supplying over 30,000 litres of clean water daily to internally displaced persons (IDPs) camped at the International Market in Makurdi, following the recent Yelwata attacks in Benue State.
The organisation’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Specialist, Mrs Rebecca Bolatito-Gabriel, made this known during a field visit to the camp on Monday, stating that the intervention is aimed at safeguarding public health and ensuring access to basic hygiene.
“We are providing over 30,000 litres of water daily to the IDPs in the camp. We have over 3,400 IDPs here according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) database,” she said.
To support the water supply, two 10,000-litre water bladders have been installed, and several abandoned boreholes have been revitalised. This is expected to enable the proper use of the 36 water cistern toilets within the camp to prevent the spread of diseases.
“Sanitation facilities like toilets cannot be maintained or used hygienically without water. We are ensuring water is available to make the facilities useful, hygienic, and safe,” Bolatito-Gabriel explained.
She further revealed that UNICEF had engaged 50 hygiene promoters, including IDPs, to maintain environmental cleanliness and encourage healthy sanitation practices across the camp.
Also speaking, Dr Ifeyinwa Anyanyo, UNICEF Health Specialist, said healthcare support had been extended to 910 individuals, with four successful deliveries recorded so far at the temporary facility.
She noted that UNICEF was providing integrated primary healthcare and antenatal services to the affected population.
“We are currently offering an integrated package of healthcare services and antenatal care to ensure no one is left behind,” she added.
