The European Union has approved a humanitarian relief grant of €500,000 (approximately ₦886 million) to support thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benue State, as the region grapples with worsening violence and displacement.
According to the EU, over 1.5 million people have been displaced from their homes since 2018, with 6,900 lives lost and 400,000 newly displaced between 2024 and 2025 alone due to a fresh wave of attacks in the region.
In a statement issued Thursday, Ugo Sokari-George, Public Affairs Officer, Politics, Press and Information Section of the EU, confirmed that the six-month funding package will be implemented in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
“In response to the influx of displaced people following recent attacks in Benue State, the EU has released €500,000 to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs,” the statement said.
The intervention will focus on protection, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), and multi-purpose cash assistance for affected individuals and families.
The EU expressed grave concern over the “dire conditions” within the camps, highlighting widespread shortages of shelter, limited access to clean water and hygiene services, and increased vulnerability for women, children, and persons with disabilities.
“Escalating armed violence in Benue has exacerbated an already critical humanitarian crisis. In June 2025 alone, nearly 23,000 people were forced to flee their homes, many for the second or third time,” Sokari-George added.
The EU noted that the humanitarian response has become increasingly complex, as the security situation continues to deteriorate and access to basic services and livelihoods becomes more limited.
As part of its ongoing support to Nigeria, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable populations, and urged for sustained international collaboration to address the deepening crisis in Benue and surrounding areas.
