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Tag: displaced

  • 200 displaced, 50 houses gone as storm hits Anambra community

    200 displaced, 50 houses gone as storm hits Anambra community

    MORE than 200 residents of Umuife village in Urum community, Awka-North Local Government Area of Anambra State, have been rendered homeless.

    They were sacked by a mid-night thunder storm and heavy downpour that destroyed about 50 structures including private homes and public buildings; residential homes; business areas; government facilities; electric poles and cables; and economic trees among others.

    When The Nation visited Umuife yesterday, a community leader who doubles as the Financial Secretary of Umuife Progressive Union (UPU), Mr. Obiesili Amaechi Cosmas, described the incident as “tragic”.

    He lamented that their homes, farmlands and economic trees were swept away, leaving them hopeless.

    Obiesili said: “I have never witnessed this kind of thing ever since I was born or heard it ever happened. Many houses, business centres, PHCN facilities and farms were destroyed.

    “Many people were rendered homeless. Many were injured and the entire village is affected. Can’t you see people crying for help? My own house was adversely affected. “We have started making contacts with the government agencies to come to our rescue as this is beyond community capacity to handle. We have just contacted the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (ASEMA); our representative in the State House of Assembly, Rebecca Udorji; Caretaker Committee Chairperson for Awka-North, Mrs Joy Eweluzor, and others. We just hope they will come to our rescue soonest.”

    Another victim, Mr Chika Nath Arinze, said: “The fact is that from what we saw on ground, it’s a disaster of high magnitude. Our economic activities have been crippled; many people rendered homeless.

    “It has never happened before and it honestly needs urgent attention. As I’m talking to you now, the affected people have no place to lay their heads tonight. We are honestly looking forward to hearing from the government and ASEMA.”

    Mrs. Blessing Anaekwe, another victim, said: “What happened to me was disastrous. It nearly killed my only child. The thing began as a light rain shower, then the storm.

    “We thought we were the only victims, until we started hearing people wailing. We are calling on the government to come to our rescue as we are now homeless and hopeless.”

    Mr Michael Ozokwu, whose house was affected, said: “We were preparing to set out for the day when the sky boomed, a sign of an impending heavy downpour.

    “Suddenly, it became windy and the next thing we saw was that it began to pull houses and walls. There is a business centre in front of my house which was blown off and dropped on the roof of my house. My house was also blown off. It was just strange and mysterious to me. And I sincerely seek help from both government and people.”

    ASEMA’s Chairman Dr Nwabufo Ijezie told reporters on phone that the government would take stock of the damage.

    Ijezie said: “Well, I just got the information and the pictures of the disaster. We will do an assessment and see what has happened. If it is beyond what the capability of the state can respond to or handle, we’ll seek external support.”

    He, however, said there was no relief materials for the victims but “something swift” would be done to support them.

    “There are no relief materials for now because we have not done the assessment to ascertain the level of disaster in the area,” Ijezie said.

  • ‘Kogi’s displaced persons getting adequate care’

    the Kogi State Government has denied reports that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were seeking succour in camps outside the state.

    In a statement in Lokoja, the state capital, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Abu Michael, said the IDPs in the 83 camps across the state were getting adequate attention.

    The statement explained that Kogi State yesterday completed the verification of IDPs to ascertain their number and requirements for their resettlement when the government completes its plans for them.

    The verification, the statement said, followed the recommendations of the United Nations (UN) groups, which rated the state as one of the most organised in the handling and upkeep of those affected by recent floods.

    The statement reads: “The Idris Wada administration has continuously shown concern about the upkeep of IDPs in the nine local government areas. It was the state first hit by the floods and is still consciously taking care of the victims; not even having a date for winding up of its camp. The government is already in the process of building houses for those affected, having acquired some Federal Government houses to relocate the displaced victims. This is a feat that has not been achieved by any other state.

    “There is no doubt about it: there are complaints about fake individuals parading themselves as displaced persons in most affected states, like those that may have flooded Delta State, as alleged. Some of such persons were misinformed about government’s good intention in the state. They met with the government last week and apologised for their conduct.

    “The state government, rather than share money, as expected by some few disgruntled persons parading themselves as IDPs, will build, rebuild and resettle those affected by the floods.”

    The government has said it is committed to the judicious and transparent utilisation of the donations it has received to assist the IDPs.

    It stressed that only those genuinely affected would be compensated with low-cost houses.

    The government has also promised to assist the IDPs to rebuild their homes as well as provide land and financial support for others.

  • 1 million people displaced in Northcentral, says NEMA

    The floods which devastated most parts of the Northcentral displaced more than one million people, Malam Mohammed Abdulsalami, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Zonal Coordinator, has said.

    Abdulsalami told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos yesterday that the agency had established 36 camps to accommodate such Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    “The camps are spread among the six states of the Northcentral,’’ he said, adding that the worst-hit was Kogi, closely followed by Benue.

    “The two states had the worst cases because of their positioning along the River Niger and River Benue.

    “In fact, in the case of Kogi, many people have even fled to parts of Anambra but we have followed them and established camps there,’’ he said.

    Abdulsalami said, however, that many IDPs were not in the camps, preferring to live with neighbours, relations, family friends and clergymen.

    “Many IDPs have complained of the inconvenience, regimented life and poor sanitation in the usually crowded camps and have opted to stay away.

    “For such people, usually referred to as Non-camped IDPs, who are even more in number, we register them and give them some succour pending when we shall make a more permanent arrangement.

    “We usually ask them to stand in front of the houses into which they are accommodated where we get their pictures and the other details to help us to sort them out,’’ he said.

    The official described the effect of the flood as “very, very colossal’’.

    He said 300 people were confirmed killed in the floods, while farmlands, houses, roads and bridges were destroyed, in addition to numerous livestock that were killed.

    “As I speak, many people are still missing and we still receive distress calls from communities in danger of being submerged,’’ he said.

    Abdulsalami commended the respective state governments for working with NEMA to assist the affected persons, and particularly lauded prominent citizens of Benue, who directly assisted victims.

    “In Benue, prominent indigenes like Senate President David Mark, NAFDAC Director-General Paul Orhii and Senator Barnabas Gemade have offered lots of assistance to the victims by bringing all kinds of relief materials,’’ he said.

    He said that to ensure that the relief materials reached victims, the distribution was being done directly unlike in the past when the items were routed through traditional rulers and community leaders.

    “We have often been inundated with complaints that some leaders were diverting the items.

    “We have, therefore, changed the mode of distribution to ensure that the relief materials were not cornered by people who did not suffer any damage,’’ he said.

    Other states in the zone affected by the floods are Plateau, Nasarawa, Kwara, and Niger.

  • ‘131,011 displaced in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Delta’

    ‘131,011 displaced in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Delta’

    •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.

     

  • Anambra floods: Obi offers Govt House to displaced persons

    Anambra floods: Obi offers Govt House to displaced persons

    •Senator Uba seeks emergency declaration

    Anambra floods remained on the front burner yesterday as Governor Peter Obi offered accommodation to the displaced persons inside the Government Lodge in Onitsha.

    Senator Andy Uba was moved to tears when he visited the site of the floods and called on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare emergency in the area.

    Dr. Uba, representing Anambra South, visited the affected coastal areas in Anambra East, Anambra West and Ogbaru local government areas.

    “The situation in these Anambra communities is worse than those in Kogi, Benue and other states since this flood began its dangerous incursion into Nigeria.”

    He urged federal government to address this “strange and evil development in Anambra State, where the River Niger is now discharging water into residential areas, instead of the other way round. The discharge channels are now making upward discharge of water, instead of downward discharge, wreaking unprecedented havoc in its trail. Churches and farmlands have been destroyed”, he said. He promised to facilitate the inclusion of relief for the communities in the next budgetary allocation. Although the affected communities are not within his senatorial constituency, Senator Uba gave financial assistance to them.

    Governor Obi yesterday directed the Secretary to the Anambra State Government , Mr Oseloka Obaze, to immediately consider sending some people evacuated from the flooded communities to the Governor’s Lodge in Onitsha should there be shortage of accommodation.

    Obi spoke while touring some of the public buildings sheltering the people at Omunwa Egboka primary school, behind the Basillica of the Most Holy Trinity.

    The Governor, who cancelled a trip to Mexico and his participation in the Independence anniversary ceremonies because of the emergency, said the State Government would continue to feed and provide for them since they are suffering from natural disaster that was not their own making. “A few weeks ago, governors of the Southeast sent money to Haiti to help them rebuild after the Earthquake of 2010. If we could do it to them, we must do more for our people, that elected us to serve them”, Obi said.

    The Governor visited other camps, Otuocha Local Governement Headquarters, Umueri General Hospital, Father Joseph Secondary School, among others.

     

  • 1.9m people displaced by floods in Kogi

    1.9m people displaced by floods in Kogi

    Senator Smart Adeyemi yesterday raised the alarm that about 1.9 million people have been displaced by floods in Kogi State.

    Besides, the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) said nine local governments in the state were under threats with some parts submerged.

    Adeyemi, who spoke with reporters in Abuja after returning from a tour of the affected areas, said the figure was confirmed to him by NEMA’s North Central Co-ordinator.

    The Senator inspected the devastated areas in company of three members of the House of Representatives -Sunday Karimi, TJ Yusuf and Mohammed Buba.

    Most of the displaced victims are housed in 10 camps.

    Adeyemi however, donated N250,000 to each of the 10 resettlement camps. He said the flood has “reinforced the need for the Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Commission(HYPPADEC), which, in his view would have assisted the affected areas.

    “The flood has wreaked enormous damage in the communities, nine local governments, including Lokoja, Kotonkarfe, Ankpa, Dekina, Ibaji and Bassa, were badly affected.

    “To get to the real spots, we had to take canoe on two spots on the highway. More than 10,000 vehicles and trucks were stranded on that highway,”

    “I want the Federal government to immediately come to the aid of the people in those communities because this is not what they bargained for,” he said

    A statement by NEMA’s Head of Public Relations, Alhaji Yushau Shuaib, reads: “A technical team comprising officials of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and critical stakeholders in disaster management at the weekend visited areas devastated by the massive floods along the banks of Rivers Benue and Niger and their tributaries in Benue and Kogi states to assess the damages and identify suitable intervention required to address the problem. “As most of the areas remained flooded, about 10, 000 displaced persons are taking shelter in four camps each in Benue and Kogi states while many more are also taking cover with their relatives. NEMA has already deployed relief items to the camps to assist the Internally displaced People (IDPs).

    “The flood in Benue affected the communities in Makurdi along the river belt. Nine local government areas were affected in Kogi State with Ibaji Local Government Area almost completely submerged.

    “The inhabitants are now taking refuge in the neighbouring communities. The other local governments areas affected are Bassa, Ofu, Kogi, Omala, Ajaokuta, Ankpa, Igalamela and Lokoja where choice property including hotels, residential buildings, government offices and fishing communities along the confluence of Rivers Benue and Niger were also virtually submerged.

    At a meeting with the Governor of Kogi State, NEMA’s Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr. Charles Agbo, who led the team warned of prolonged flooding as more water would still be released from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon and Kainji Dam with the intensifying rains.

    He also urged the state government to enforce the standard regulation on urban planning and development as well as permanently relocate communities in the flood plains to safer locations.

    Agbo warned that even after the flood, most of the submerged houses may become too weak and no longer be safe for habitation in addition to the potential health hazards from the disaster. Therefore, he said the state governments must to rise up to their responsibilities to the affected communities as the Federal Government, through NEMA would provide necessary support for the displaced persons.

    Replying, Governor Idris Wada appreciated the concern of the Federal Government towards the flood situation and requested supports to reinforce the efforts made by the state government to assist the displaced persons.

    He urged NEMA and relevant organisations to identify measures to mitigate future occurrence of the flood.

    The flood has also cut off the Abuja-Lokoja road. Though temporary diversions have created to ease gridlock on the route, traffic officials and emergency workers are having hectic moments in controlling the stranded motorists

  • 3,000 displaced in Kaduna

    More than 3,000 persons have been displaced by flood in the Kaduna metropolis following a torrential rain. Over 750 families were rendered homeless.  The Nation learnt that property worth millions of naira were also destroyed by the rain, which lasted for several hours. The affected areas are Ungwan Romi, Trikania and the communities along the river bank.

    Narrating his ordeal, a victim, Lucky Inanse, who claimed to be a public servant, said his home was submerged. He described the incident as a tragedy.
    Residents of the Lusawa areas of Romi and Turaki, Musa Yarima, Ayuba Bako, Zarmai and Wambai streets were affected. About 200 persons are taking refuge at the Government Day Secondary School, Romi.

    The village head of Gonin-Gora, Mr. Yusuf Doma, said 60 buildings were affected and 180 families and 900 people displaced. He said most of the victims are staying with relatives.

    Babatunde Adebanjo, who claimed to be a naval officer in Port Harcourt, said: “My credentials and other property were submerged.” The Commandant of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, Charles James and the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ishaku Dogo Makama, confirmed the incident. The Public Relations Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ali Zakari, said the flood has wreaked havoc. They assured that the relevant agencies would assist the victims.