7 weeks after, no succour for victims of Pankshin flood disaster

Nearly two months after a flooding, caused by persistent rainfall destroyed homes and submerged farmlands in Pankshin local government area of Plateau State, victims of the incident say they are yet to receive assistance from the government.

Benue/Plateau Chronicle reports that the August flood had destroyed at least 151 residential houses and submerged dozens of farmlands in Mwel and Jivir villages of Kadung ward as well as Minting and Longkat in Kangmun ward all in Pankshin local government area.

Simwal Panzak, a farmer from Minting, also called Baban Lamba village, told our correspondent that the victims of the flood disaster were still expecting assistance from government.

Panzak, whose maize, rice and millet farm was washed away by the flood said he could not cultivate a single grain since the flooding.

“The government visited us and sympathised with us. They promised to render assistance to us, but we have not received anything yet,” he said.

Shirman Ezekiel, who lost his home to the flooding, said his family had relocated to a nearby village where they are taking refuge at a relative’s compound. “I lost my house and my farmland, I don’t have anything to feed my family,” he said.

Chairman of Pankshin local government area, Hon. John Danladi Damap, had embarked on an assessment tour of the affected areas where he lamented the possibility of a food deficit this harvest season.

The chairman had assured the victims that the local government will collaborate with the State and National Emergency Management Agencies and other relevant authorities to ensure the victims receive palliatives.

When asked why assistance to the victims was taking too long, the Chairman told our correspondent that the LG was already mobilising to ensure the victims get some assistance while the legislator representing the ward had assisted them with some funds.