Flood: Edo communities seek relief for IDPs
Leaders of Anegbette and Udochi communities worst hit by floods in South Uneme Clan, Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State have called for urgent government intervention in the provision of relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to avoid food crises and outbreak of diseases.
The President of Anegbette Development Association (ADA), Emma Okolo, and the National President of Udochi Development Union (UDU), Mr. Abubakar Aleobua, said thousands of people in the riverine communities had been displaced from their ancestral homes and that many of them were now taking shelter under trees.
Addressing journalists, Okolo and Aleobua said only the prompt intervention by government and concerned bodies would bring relief and succour to the people whose farmlands and agricultural produce worth hundreds of millions of naira had been destroyed.
Okolo said, “Hundreds of houses in Anegbette were submerged, our farm produce, mostly rice, cassava, yam, pepper, tomatoes and others were washed away. Our people are at the mercy of God as we speak.
“Our plea goes to not only the government but also humanitarian organisations and international bodies.
On his part, the UDU President, Aleobua lamented that the only IDP camp in the LGA was not easily accessible and therefore called for the establishment of one closer to the community.
He said, “Our people are going through untold hardship as many have been without food and adequate clothing for days. The community school buildings, our health centre and places of worship are under the waters.
“Government must declare an emergency in these areas and send NEMA and sister agencies to visit affected communities and provide them with relief materials or else we may witness a severe health crisis.”
Also, the Member representing Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, Peter Ohiozoje Akpatason, has warned of dangers the increasing numbersof Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country might pose.
The legislator told journalists that the high number of IDPs in the country did not augur well for Nigeria and therefore urged the government to take concrete steps to address the situation.
Hon. Ohiozoje said, “The flooding has increased the growing population of IDPs in the country when we already have those caused by insurgency in the North.”
While describing the situation as unacceptable, he said, government must focus on how to return those affected by floods back to their communities and resettle them.