Following the earlier forecast by the Meteorological Agency of Nigeria of imminent flood disaster which included Anambra State as one of the disaster prone areas in this year’s rainy season, the state government has again called on the inhabitants of the state especially those living in the riverine communities of Anambra East and West, Ayamelum, Onitsha North and South, Awka North, Ekwusigo, Ogbaru, Idemili South and Ihiala Local Government Areas to apply caution so as to avert disaster.

According to the forecast, it expected that the surge of rainfall with excessive flood will increase between the months of September and October this year is almost certain.

Reports available to the state government reveal that some communities in Idemili North and other local government areas which were not affected by the 2012 flooding in the state now stand to face the danger of being flooded.

Consequently, the state government has urged residents of the affected local government areas especially children, the elderly and the physically challenged to start moving immediately to stay with their relations residing in the upland or other safe areas.

The state government speaking through the Commissioner of Information and Culture, Mrs. Uju Nworgu, also urged those living in the upland areas to accommodate the likely to be displaced persons as they come.

According to her, “Those who reside in riverine communities of the state and who are observant would notice that the streams and rivers surrounding their areas have started rising and would continue to rise with the rate at which this year’s rainfall is already coming.”

The government assured that adequate arrangements have been made in designated Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, located in headquarters of the likely to be affected local governments and Schools with adequate security arrangements put in place to ensure safety of lives and property in all the camps.

In addition, it made arrangements to provide life jackets and other basic amenities like mattresses, sweaters, blankets, lanterns, food stuffs, buckets and other household needs and also provided lifesaving ambulances with well-trained medical personnel, boats, buses, trucks, lorries and cars to convey likely to be displaced persons to the designated camps.

The State Government further called on well-meaning indigenes of the state and philanthropists to support its activities in this direction by donating basic amenities and household property in support of this project.

•Photo shows Anambra Gov Obiano.

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