The Federal Government yesterday donated food and relief materials, worth millions of naira, to Delta Government to ameliorate the sufferings of flood victims in the state.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Habib Mustapha, who delivered the goods in Asaba, said it was part of the Agency’s response to the 2022 flood impacted states.
Mustapha, represented by Mr Brandon Walson, Deputy Director, Relief and Rehabilitation in the Agency, thanked the Delta Government for the timely response to the needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), particularly by providing camps, food and health services.
According to Mustapha, the grains approved by the Federal Government for the vulnerable persons in Delta include 105 metric tonnes of maize, 88.7 metric tonnes of sorghum and 98.7 metric tonnes of garri.
“Other relief materials include, 1,000 (10kg) bag each for rice, beans, and maize; also vegetable oil, salts, seasoning cubes, tin tomatoes, nylon mats, treated mosquito nets, Guinea brocades, toilet soaps and others.”
While commiserating with the state and the victims, he said that more items are being expected, adding that disaster assistance is on continues bases.
He said that based on the forecast by the relevant agencies, no fewer than 233 local governments areas (LGAs) in 32 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were within early probable flood risk areas for the year 2022, while 212 LGAs in 35 states are within moderately probable flood risk areas.
“Already, the Agency is inundated with the pulse of flood disaster in 450 LGAs in 36 States and the FCT and still counting, causing colossal loss of lives, livelihood and properties and infrastructure.
“What we witness in Delta and indeed other States of the federation should spur us to concrete and deliberate actions that will lead to substantial reduction of flood disaster, risk and losses.”
He advised that all stakeholders should take a critical look at the past, ask relevant questions in other to prevent a repeat of the flood disaster in the country, given its severe and dear consequences on the people and national economy.
According to him, the government in the interim should strengthen the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other relevant agencies to be able to mitigate and manage such disasters.
Mustapha acknowledged that the Federal Government agencies alone could not compensate the traumatic experiences of persons affected by the flood.
“Yet, the Federal Government has approved the release of these food and relief materials to help to ameliorate the sufferings of those impacted by the disaster in Delta,” he said.
Handing over the items to the state government, Mustapha thanked Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and other donors for their first line response to the plight of the victims.
Receiving the items, Delta Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Johnbull Edema, thanked the Federal Government and the NEMA for the food and other relief materials.
Edema decried the colossal loss due to the flood and called for a more enduring solutions to the flood disaster.
“On behalf of the state governor and the good people of Delta, I want to thank the Federal Government for this kind gesture of approving and releasing these food and relief materials for flood victims in the state.”
While acknowledging that the Federal Government alone could not assuage the plight of the victims, Edema urged the Federal Government team to take a tour of Delta, adding that about 70 per cent of the state have been submerged.
Edema, who also thanked all donors for supporting the victims in the state, appealed to other good-spirited individuals and agencies to give their support to assuage the over 20,000 impacted citizens of the state.
He pledged the state government’s commitment to adequately distribute the items to all the flood impacted victims in the over 11 IDP camps and community settlements across the state.