Following the recent flood that
devastated communities in 9 Local Governments Areas in Benue State, the
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at the weekend delivered relief
items to the Governor of Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom for onward distribution
to more than 32, 000 persons affected by the flood.
Presenting the relief items to Governor
Ortom in Makurdi, Director General of NEMA Muhammad Sani Sidi expressed
satisfaction with the positive response of most states government to the flood
warning alerts issued by Nimet and NEMA thereby averting more losses. He however,
urged the Governors to sustain awareness on the risk of flood in communities
living along river plains as well as permanently relocate them to safer higher
grounds.
The Director General who was
represented by NEMA's Director of Relief and Rehabilitation Mr Eugene Udemezue
Ezeh said a joint assessment carried by NEMA and the Benue State Emergency
Management Agency indicated that more than 32, 000 persons were affected by the
flood. He also said that the relief items delivered were based on the
identified needs of the affected persons and aimed at complimenting the
supports of the Benue State Government to them.
Receiving the items, Governor Ortom
appreciated NEMA for the prompt response in coming to aid of the flood victims.
While assuring that the items would be distributed to the desired
beneficiaries, he called on the Federal Government to urgently address the
frequent occurrences of flood along the River Benue by constructing a buffer
dam to collect excess water from Lagdo dam as well as fast track the dredging
of the river.
The Governor immediately handed over
the items to the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency
Mr Boniface Otise for distribution to the flood affected persons.
The Executive Secretary of Benue
SEMA Mr Otise confirmed the items received from NEMA as made up of large
quantities of food and non-food items including bags of rice, maize, building
materials, mattresses, etc. He said the Agency had obtained approval of the
Governor before the official handing over of the items and commenced the
distribution to ameliorate the suffering of the affected persons.
Manzo Ezekiel
Press Officer
08 November 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment