The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of palliatives to the 2022 flood victims in the Niger Delta.
The Ministry of Niger Delta on Monday transferred the Rivers State share of the palliatives to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for distribution to all affected victims in the region.
The distribution tagged first phase of the Presidential Palliatives to the 2022 Flood-affected persons in the region was inaugurated at the NEMA warehouse in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Items to be distributed are bags of foodstuff, tons of building materials, and empowerment materials among others.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Niger Delta Affair, Umana Okon, regretted that the region was worst hit by the natural disaster following its topography.
Read Also: Niger Delta leaders lack political will to develop region, say stakeholders
The Minister, who was represented by the Director of Planning, Research, and Strategy of the Ministry, Alfred Abbah said President Muhammadu Buhari approved that relief materials should be given to the flood victims in the affected states to alleviate the challenges that came with the flood.
He said: “Even though the flood was predicted by relevant federal and state agencies, the density of the flood was however beyond our imagination, it was the worst flood by its destructive effect on the livelihood of the people and the entire ecosystem of the Niger Delta.
“Homes, farmlands, and businesses were lost to the flood. Regrettably, it is worthy of note that Niger Delta is always worse hit by floods in the country because of its topography and location.
“Consequent upon this ugly situation, President Muhammadu Buhari, in his concern and love for the people of the Niger Delta region approved that relief materials should be given to the flood victims in the states of the Niger Delta to alleviate the challenges that came with the flood”.
The Minister said the relief items would help alleviate the burden currently faced by the people, acknowledging that no amount of relief provided by the government can replace their losses.