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MAKURDI: Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) last weekend distributed bags of rice and maize in thousands to victims of flood in the Makurdi metropolis.
The Executive Secretary, SEMA, Sir James Iorpuu who disclosed this during the distribution of the items to the flood victims in Makurdi, last weekend, noted that the distribution was aimed at cushioning the effect of hunger on the flood victims.
He explained that even though Benue state has drawn the attention of the Federal Government (FG) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to the plight of the affected persons, it has decided to embark on the intervention in order to cushion the effect of the flood before the NEMA responds.
Sir Iorpuu who was addressing the beneficiaries also said that the Agency has embarked on the fumigation of the homes of persons affected by the flood, noting that it could not carry out the exercise extensively because it discovered that there were children in the homes of some of the affected persons, therefore it decided to put off the exercise until it was convenient to do so.
According to him, “We are distributing palliatives to flood victims in Logo 2, Gyado villa, Modern market, Wadata, central areas of High level and others. Today again the governor has demonstrated his willingness to reach out to the people and that is exactly what we are doing here. This distribution is not for the general public, it is for those affected by flood.
“SEMA within the year, carried out an assessment of those affected (by the flood). The report of that assessment was forwarded to the FG, NEMA in particular. While we are waiting for the intervention of the FG, we started to do this to those affected to cushion the effect of hunger.
“We carried out a house-to-house assessment and we identified those affected and compiled their damages, put up our report and shared our token with them.
“Some persons were affected by flood but at the point of assessment, they were not available but we will not neglect them. We will reach out to those who were captured in the first phase.
The SEMA ES further stated that “We carried out the fumigation of homes and areas affected by flooding. While we were doing that, we discovered many people have returned to their homes.
“In some places we couldn’t carry out the fumigation because little children were in those homes. So we set aside a date to fumigate those areas. We do this to prevent anything that could happen, we care for you and the government cares about your health and well-being”, he stated.
Responding, the Chairman, Landlords’ Association, Logo II, Thaddeus Ahule, who appreciated the state government for the gesture, assured beneficiaries that all those that were captured would benefit, even as he urged them to exhibit decorum.
One of the beneficiaries, Miss Ann Teghtegh, thanked Governor Hyacinth Alia for reaching out to them, adding that over the years they have been neglected and they least expected that government would reach out to them.
