NEMA DISTRIBUTES PALLIATIVE TO FLOOD/VULNERABLE VICTIMS IN ANAMBRA

REPORTER: UCHE NEDEKE

Some flood victims and vulnerable persons in Anambra State have commended the Federal Government for providing them with relief items to cushion the effect of the economic hardship in the country.

They made the commendation in Awka after receiving edible and non edible materials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

A beneficiary of the distribution, Mr. Luke Oraekie from Urum, Awka North Local Government Area, said the idea was laudable and would go a long way in reducing the level of hunger they were experiencing.

A stakeholder, Comrade Chigozie Agulu from Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area, while commending NEMA and SEMA for the seamless manner the items were distributed, noted that those who got it deserved the gesture.

Expressing his excitement over the non food items distributed, Mr. Nnaemeka Ignatius, from Ogbaru Local Government Area, said the pumping machine and chemicals would help his farming business as the flood incident rendered them helpless.

For another beneficiary, Mrs. Comfort Udeozor, it was a laudable thing for the Federal Government to show concern for the people.

She advocated that such gesture be made regular.

Mrs. Christiana Ikechebelu from Mbaukwu in Awka South Local Government Area, who got a grinding machine, remarked that it was the first time in her life to receive palliatives from the government.

The Transition Committee Chairman of Anambra East Local Government Area, Dr. Anselem Onuorah, while thanking the Federal and state governments for transparently distributing the materials to the vulnerable persons and flood victims, said it would impact on the lives of the people greatly.

Dr. Onuorah, however noted that the level of economic hardship in the country required that government should do more to cushion the effect on the masses.

The traditional ruler of Ebenebe, in Awka North Local Government Area, Igwe Christopher Nnegbuna while commending the government for empowering the people with life saving items, encouraged the beneficiaries to utilize them to become self-reliant.

In an interview,the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo encouraged the beneficiaries of the agricultural crops and non food items, including grinding, sewing and pumping machines, to make valuable use of them to meet their daily needs.

For his part, the Supervisor of the distribution and NEMA Assistant Director Planning, Research and Forecasting, Mr. Olusegun Afolayan, said apart from the overwhelming crowd that posed a challenge during the distribution, the exercise was seamless as the items got to the real victims and vulnerable persons in the state.

The Special National Economic and Livelihood Emergency Intervention, was introduced by the Federal Government to cushion the effect of the removal of oil subsidy which caused increase in all goods and services across the country.

The initiative also captured the victims of flood that ravaged parts of the country in 2022 of which Anambra State was one of the worst hit.

NEMA and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), between May and June 2023 conducted enumeration and verification of those affected by the 2022 flood and the most vulnerable persons in the entire state.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU