Flooding: Rivers Community Counts Losses … NEMA Set To Distribute Relief Materials

As the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) declares its readiness to assist flood ravaged communities in Rivers State, Egbema Kingdom in Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area lost over a billion naira worth of properties to the flood.
The President of Ogbakor Egbema, Mr. Ify Francis Ike told The Tide in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt that over 2.6 million people have been displaced by the flood in the Kingdom.
According to Mr Ike worst affected communities are: Ebocha, Aggah, Mbede Obumuzie, Ogbada and other communities.
He said the flood pulled down buildings, eroded farm lands as well as aided the escape of fishes from ponds in communities in the kingdom.
According to him, the situation also led to hygienic problems, as thousands of people were crammed into the three secondary school halls in the area.
He who is also chairman of ONELGA people Association on flood, called for the dredging of all rivers inlets and outlets in the area, while canals should be opened up to aide the free flow of waters out of the area.
He advised the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to ensure that relief materials gets to those who deserved it.
He said NEMA should contact the right people to assist in the distribution of the relief materials, stressing that the people of Egbema need warm clothings, food, fishing gears and farming implements, while a programme for the care of the elderly as regular medical outreach be included in the programme.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) South South zone says it has received relief materials from its national office for onward distributions to three local government areas in Rivers State.
NEMA zonal coordinator Brandon Walson disclosed this via a telephone interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt.
Walson listed the benefitting Local Government Areas as: Ahoada West, Abua/Odual and Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas.
The coordinator said only places captured by the Agency will benefit from the exercise, adding that a meeting with the three affected local government chairmen will be convened by the Agency.

By: John Bibor