By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has donated relief materials worth multi-million naira to flood victims in some communities within Enugu State.

The relief materials donated were food and non-food items, which included: rice (10kg by 1,000 bags); beans (10kg by 1,000 bags); maize (10kg by 1000) and salt (20kg by 75 bags).

Others are: vegetable oil (20 litres keg by 75 kegs); seasoning cubes (50 sachet per carton by 150 cartons); tin tomatoes 75 cartons; nylon mats 7,350 pieces and treated mosquito nets 1,000 pieces.

The rest are: toilet soap 600 pieces; Guinea brocade (5 yards per piece by 2500); children wear 1,000 pieces; women’s wear 1000 pieces and men’s wear 1,000 pieces.

Presenting the items to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Tuesday in Enugu, the Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed, commiserated with the good people and government of the state over the unfortunate flood disaster that had ravaged some communities in the state.

Ahmed revealed that NEMA had been inundated with reports of flood disaster in more than 450 local government areas in the country and still counting; thus, causing colossal loss of lives, livelihood, properties and infrastructure.

The director general called for “concrete and deliberate” action that would lead to substantial reduction of flood disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environment assets of persons, businesses and communities.

“To be able to achieve these we need to have a better understanding of flood disaster risk, by looking deeply into the previous flood disasters. A deeper questioning of what happened, and why, could prevent a repetition,” he said.

He also called for strengthen of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and establishment of Local Government Emergency Management Committees to manage disaster risk.

“As a people, we must listen and take full advantage of early warning alerts from hydro-meteorological services (NIMET and NIHSA) and NEMA as well as ensure that new infrastructure does not introduce new risk. Locating infrastructure out of harm's way is one way to achieve this.

“Have the political will to invest in disaster risk reduction activities through adequate budget appropriations in lieu to the National Flood Response Plan that was recently approved by the Federal Government,” he said.

Ahmed also commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for providing the first line of support to affected population as well as appreciated public spirited individuals and corporate bodies for their assistance in the state so far.

He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, for the timely intervention and commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of all citizen of the country.

Receiving the items, Gov. Ugwuanyi, represented by the Executive Secretary of Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mrs Nkechi Eneh, thanked the Federal Government and NEMA for intervening in a very special way to give succour to flood victims in the state.

The governor explained that the state took the necessary steps concerning the early warnings by NEMA and even monitored the level of water in rivers within the state before the sudden release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo dam three weeks ago that devastated some communities in the state.

He noted that one life was lost; and over 30,000 persons were directly affected by the floods, which had ravaged most communities in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area and other communities in boundary council areas close to Uzo Uwani council.

“The state government had relocated all persons in communities affected by flood to holding camps and provided some relief items as well as daily food items to these camps even as we intend to care for them till the flood water recedes.

“We will find means of getting these relief materials from NEMA to them and ensure that it will definite get to intended displaced persons in the state within a very short time,” he said.

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