The International Committee of the Red Cross in a statement said 80,000 displaced people in Benue state have so far received food assistance. Similarly, in Nasarawa state, a livestock deworming campaign is reaching 100,000 cattle and other small ruminants belonging to pastoralist communities affected by violence.

The Head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Jos, Majid Bakhtiary, was quoted as saying: “We provided this assistance to alleviate the suffering of people in these areas. The humanitarian situation here is difficult, and the ICRC helps the most vulnerable communities.”

The ICRC said the six weeks deworming campaign started on November 12 in Awe, Keana and Nasarawa local government areas of Nasarawa state aimed at improving the health conditions of about 100,000 cattle and 40,000 sheep and goats of livestock owners.
“Simultaneously, the ICRC has concluded food distribution to some 80,000 people in displacement camps in Guma and Makurdi local government areas. The food distribution took place in collaboration with the Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS).”
“Additionally, the ICRC in partnership with the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services in Plateau state trained 1,600 people, among them NRCS volunteers, community animal health workers and community leaders. The training covered basic animal disease and treatment, enabling participants to assist livestock herders in remote areas where veterinary services are not available”.

It would be recalled that on November 25th, veterinarians and community animal health workers from 20 states received training in Abuja on livestock emergency guidelines to treat animal disease in conflict-affected areas.