The Rivers state Government Flood management committee has began the distributions of relief materials to flood impacted areas in the state. The flood committee headed by the deputy Governor Prof Nma Ngozi Ordu said the governor has made adequate provision to mitigate the impact of the flooding noting that they are still collating date to get the actual number of people impacted and the number of out of school children also affected, who are also in IDP Camps, even those who have refused to stay in IDP camps and are staying with relatives in other areas will be reached, that is why that data is very important – she explains
Prof Ngozi said the Flood is not as bad as we have two years ago, while also clarifying that the worst hit area is Abua/Odual areas, which are no longer accessible by roads followed by the Ahoada areas and other LGAs
“she said we set out with the first phase where we have to do a lot sensitizations for people to know what to do when the flood comes, The second phase been what interventions the government is putting in place to tackle the flood, while the Third phase cushioning the effects of the flood and returning the affected people back to their source of livelihood, We will provide Cassava stick that will grow well under five month, seedlings to farmer, clearing of the environment to ensure that no one breaks out of any disease, Because flood waters comes with all manner air/water born diseases
she also noted that whatever has to do with flooding in Nigerian has a Tripartite Component, with Federal, State and Local Government in each state because everybody has to work in synergy to achieve what needs to achieved for the interest of the people
She noted that Flood committees are made up health professionals drawn from public health, Medical officers, sanitations officers, because the health component and the environmental component has to work hand in hand in addition to other people
Prof Ngozi Ordu reveal that Government has set up Monitoring and Evaluation team comprising of Chiefs, LGA Chairmen to ensure that relief materials gets to the right people affected by flood and not diverted by politicians or handlers
she also revealed that since they just set out for the distribution, the eight local government affected will be visited and areas where the community are calling for dredging to be carried out will also be done to ensure that some form of comforts comes back to the people once the flood rescinds and government will also help by carrying out post flood impact assessment, by fumigating houses and re-building houses especially those with mud houses that would have fallen as result of the flood.
She said items included in the relief materials for each location includes Blankets, Beddings, Wrappers. 600 Bags of Rice, 600 bags of Garri, five hundred cartoons of indomie , palm oil, salt groundnut oil etc
She expressed profound gratitude to NEMA, NDDC and other agencies who have been collaborating with the government in reaching out to the people directly