•Food crisis looms in Imo •Relief materials flood camps
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the registration of 88740 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Adamawa, Benue and Taraba states, where floods were triggered by the release of water from the Ladgo Dam in Cameroon.
The Delta State government yesterday said 42,271 internally displaced persons are in 18 relief camps.
Governor Emmanue Uduaghan spoke in Asaba, the Delta State capital. He said some victims refused to come to the camps.
In Adamawa State, which was worse hit, emergency workers recorded 46,030 IDPs in seven local government areas.
In Benue State, there are 19505 IDPs from six local government areas. In Taraba, emergency workers registered 23,205 IDPs in camps spread in seven local government areas.
Prices of food have skyrocketed in Imo State, with a cup of gari selling for N200.00 as against N20.00 before the disaster.
It is feared that a food crisis is imminent in Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta, which were submerged by the ravaging flood. Several hectares of farmland and fish ponds were washed away.
A trader, Mrs. Ugochi Dikeomah, said: “Before now, one bag of gari was sold at N3, 000.00 but now we buy at N12, 00.00 per bag and at times we go as far as Edo State to buy gari, so this may be the beginning of the problem.”
A civil servant, Mrs. Nkechi Uzoaru, was worried over the sudden hike in the price of food products, adding that, “if it continues like this, we all are going to starve because our meager salary can’t do in the present situation, especially those with large families”.
The state depended on farm produce from Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta council areas for its source of food.
The member representing Ohaji-Egbema State Constituency, Luke Chukwu, said: “Hundreds of farmlands have been submerged and crops and fish ponds washed away by the flood and our greatest challenge as a state is that the areas affected by the flood is responsible for over 80% food production in the state.
“Already prices of food stuff have risen sharply and we are worried that food scarcity will hit the state and the affected communities will face starvation, if nothing urgent is done. We are working as lawmakers to initiate contingency plans that will take care of the post disaster challenges like the food crisis”.
He said plans have been concluded to build four camps in the two council areas to accommodate the IDPs and serve as resettlement centres, where the victims would be empowered.
Also, the lawmaker representing Estako Federal Constituency in the House of Representative, Dr. Abubakar Momoh has donated N2 million cash to flood victims in Estako East and Estako West local government areas of Edo State.
Momoh told the displaced persons that the committee constituted by President Goodluck Jonathan on the flooding would provide a permanent solution to problems arising from the flood.
He said the cash donation would not solve the displaced persons problems permanently but to give them hope.
He said: “Giving of relief materials will not solve the flood victims’ problems, it is only met to keep them alive but with the committee, a more permanent solution will be worked out.
“This is why I said the President’s timely intervention by way of releasing special fund for the affected states and subsequent constitution of Dangote/Agbakogba’s committee would proffer a permanent solution.
“Nothing we do at this stage will be considered too little, we are only doing our best to give them hope pending when a permanent solution would be worked out.
“My reaching out to them is to let them know they have every reason to live and that we understand and share in their pains.”
A leading manufacturer of mattresses, pillows and other bedding sheets, Mouka Limited, has also donated mattresses and pillows to the victims in Edo State.
Speaking during the donation of the relief materials at the Government House in Benin, Managing Director, Mouka Limited, Mrs. Peju Adebajo, said it is the collective responsibility of all to find a long term solution to the flood to avoid reoccurrence.
Mrs. Adebajo also announced that Mouka would be giving out 10 free mattresses on every 100 purchased by any private or public organisation for the victims.
She said: “We hope that this symbolic gesture will encourage non-governmental organisations and other corporate entities to support our brothers and sisters who have been displaced by the flood in the country.”,
Deputy Governor Pius Odubu commended the efforts of the company. He said: “You have shown that Mouka cares just as the vision of the company depicts, you have indeed added comfort to the lives of the flood victims in the state with this gesture.”
Chairman, Committee on Relief Materials, Edo State, Hajia Memuna Mommoh, thanked Mouka for the kind gesture.
A philanthropist, Chief Nnaeto Orazulike, the CEO of Genesis Food, has donated two truckloads of relief materials to the victims of the floods in Anambra State.
The materials include bread, sausage rolls and other confectionaries.
Governor Peter Obi, while accepting the materials, said a committee has been set up to help to raise fund to assist the victims rebuild their homes and businesses.
The governor enjoined those who want to assist the displaced persons to go through the committee to ensure proper documentation and transparency. He expressed gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for identifying with the victims.
A member of the State Flood Relief Coordinating Committee and Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Prof. Chinyere Okunna, said more people were helping to alleviate the suffering of the victims.
