Inside Benue’s Largest IDP Camp, a Struggle Amid Stench and Disease Threats

The air hangs heavy with despair at the Makurdi Ultra Modern International Market, once a thriving commercial hub, now transformed into a makeshift camp for thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs). As reported by Benue Info-pedia, the site has become Benue’s largest IDP settlement, where poor sanitation and the constant threat of disease define daily life.

“The garbage is always here beside me; the smell is too much,” a resident lamented during a recent visit by Benue Info-pedia. What was once a bustling marketplace now echoes with the struggles of survival, as IDPs endure squalid conditions that endanger lives and livelihoods.

The camp, overcrowded and reeking of decay, highlights a dire humanitarian crisis. Two months ago, Benue Info-pedia documented heart-wrenching scenes: pregnant women and nursing mothers queued for scarce water, while children played in open spaces littered with feces and refuse. The lack of proper sanitation facilities has turned the area into a breeding ground for potential health hazards, amplifying the plight of the displaced.

This transformation of a market into a refuge underscores the severity of the displacement crisis in Benue State. As the community grapples with these challenges, urgent intervention is needed to address the sanitation crisis and provide relief to those caught in this ongoing struggle.