The Rivers State Government, has received kudos for its humanitarian support to relief camps in flood ravaged areas of the state.

Camp officials as well as persons displaced by the recent floods and quartered at various camps in the Ahoada and Ogba Egbema axis of Rivers State have expressed gratitude to Rivers State Government for coming to their aid.

Conducting newsmen around one of the camps last week, the supervisor of St. Paul’s Primary School camp, Ahoada East Local Government Area, Rev. Felix Ekiye said that despite the large population of displaced persons numbering about 5,776, the camp has no challenge in the areas of food, health and sanitation.

Rev. Ekiye said that the government has been up and doing in ensuring that the displaced persons do not lack basic necessities.

“You can see that people are fetching water freely from the multiple pumps connected to the borehole so they have enough water to cook, bath, wash and flush the toilets which has helped us in maintaining good sanitary condition in the camp.

“You can also see that the health team is working dutifully round the clock and food preparation is on a continuous basis.” Rev Ekiye stated.

He however expressed regret that the camp is not fenced off from the East-West road, adding that the absence of a perimeter fence has encouraged trespassers to wonder in and share in the food and drugs meant for the displaced persons.

Our correspondent who toured the camps reports that all the camps visited in Ahoada East, Ahoada West and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas are equipped with functional water boreholes connected with water treatment facilities and multiple pumps from where displaced persons fetched water freely.

Mrs Ndu Ebube, a displaced person at the Universal Basic Education (UBE) camp, Omoku, told our reporter that the medical team has cured her of an illness that disturbed her for several weeks before arrival to the camp, Even as another displaced person, Miss Blessing John, was unhappy because the UBE camp managers would not allow those who wish to leave the camp to go with their mattresses. She wondered what they will sleep on when they return to their homes where their property had been wiped off by the flood.

Also, a physically challenged man, Comrade Appah Ebenezer, who said he had been visiting St. Paul’s Primary School camp since the disaster struck expressed disappointment that no camps were provided for his kind who cannot share facilities meant for able bodied people.

“I came here the first day thinking that I and some other people in my condition will be taken to a special camp, but when I realised that there was no camp meant for the physically challenged I had to go back.” He lamented.

A displaced person at Erema camp Mrs Progress Ijeoma appealed to the government to extend the kind gesture beyond provision of water, food and medicine and consider giving them monetary assistance as they return to their homes.

Meanwhile chairman of the State flood relief committee Engr Tele Ikuru assured victims during a recent tour of some of the camps that the government already has a post camp rehabilitation plan. According to the Deputy Governor, there are plans to source crops for distribution to victims to enable them regain the lost ground in terms of agricultural produce.

Also last week, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Emmanuel Chindah stated, while inaugurating an inter-governmental committee on flood disaster in his office that the government would set up registration point for flood affected farmers in the state. He confirmed that more than 30,000 tons of grains have been allocated to Rivers State and noted that the committee would meet to work out modalities for the distribution.

While commenting on the post flood plan Special Duties Commissioner, Hon. Emeka Nwogu said it would cater for the food, healthcare sanitation and housing needs of the victims.

Desmond Osueke