Amputee Beggar Donates N30,000 To Flood Victims

A middle-aged amputee beggar, Mr Simon Ozoemena, has  in Awka made a cash donation of N30,000 to the flood victims in Anambra State.

Ozoemena, a native of Nibo in Awka South Local Government Area, gave the “widow’s mite” during a joint meeting of the state flood disaster relief committee.

The meeting had the state government, camp coordinating committees and the council transition chairmen of the affected areas in attendance.

The beggar, who said he solicited for alms in churches, said he was moved by the plight of the victims, who according to him, were better-off than him before the incident. “I decided to make this humble donation because I was touched that people had to relocate to camps because of the flood, leaving the comfort of their homes.

“I heard the state government’s appeal on radio and called one of the contact numbers; the person responded very well to me and asked me to come to their meeting today.

“I beg money mostly from churches and I decided to remove N30,000 from the proceeds to support government’s effort, to reduce their suffering,” Ozoemena said.

Receiving the cash donation on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Prof. Chinyere Okunna, described the gesture as “highly” emotional.

She, however, added that it was a good omen in favour of the flood victims, adding “It is a very emotional moment; the state government is deeply moved by this singular act of charity, especially from someone who depends solely on charity.

“Honestly, a N30,000 donation from a physically challenged beggar is worth more than N1,000,000 donation from an able bodied person.

“We are really impressed and positively challenged to continue the good work we are doing,” she said.

Okunna reiterated the promise that the donations would be judiciously used.

Meanwhile, the Council Chairman, Anambra East Local Government, Mr Chinedu Obidigwe has said the major problem now that the flood had started to recede, was the total rehabilitation of the affected people.

“The major tasks include the resettling of the victims, rebuilding their homes, providing soft loans for them to go back to farm and the revival of health facilities in the area.

“I must commend the proactive response of the state government in tackling this disaster, they have done really well,” Obidigwe said.

The chairman said that there were no reported cases of death, rape, robbery and outbreak of diseases in the five camps in his council area.

The camps were located in Umuede, Ifite Ogwari, Igbaku, Fr. Joseph Memorial High school and Unity Primary School.