Flood: Bayelsa IDPs Face Food Shortage, Health Issues

Thousands of victims in the over 300 Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs’) camps in Bayelsa State are facing acute food shortage and lack of health facilities and drugs.

They urged the federal government and other well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the state government to address their plight.

In most of IDPs’ camps visited by LEADERSHIP, complaints of lack of food and medicals were common.

At the Oxbow Lake area of Yenagoa, the state capital, officials of the state government were seen organising cooking and sharing relief materials to the victims.

But most of the victims, made up of women and children, have resorted to begging, alleging that the food was inadequate.

Some of the victims accused some officials of the state government, particularly politicians involved in the relief material distribution of hoarding. They alleged that instead of ensuring equitable distribution, they were using the relief materials for campaigns.

At the state executive meeting held yesterday, Governor Douye Diri warned political officeholders and state government’s officials against hoarding the relief materials.

He said if they were found culpable, they would be dealt with severely.

Governor Diri, who presided over the weekly meeting, said though the cry of food shortage had been brought to his table, “the state government has placed order for massive food stuff from states and neighbouring communities. Do not hoard relief materials. Ensure that the efforts of the state government are not sabotaged. We will take decisive action against any political appointee or official involved in hoarding the food stuff. We are in a state of emergency.”

He also tasked the political officeholders to visit their constituents to assist the displaced persons in whatever form they could before the state government’s efforts get to them.

In response to the calls for support, a former governor and the senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Seriake Dickson has donated N400,000 each to the 27 wards of his constituency and an additional N5 million to the displaced residents of Yenagoa, the state capital.

He said, “This is my little way of adding to whatever support the government and well-meaning individuals and organisations have been doing. Last week, after receiving the reports and speaking with the governor, I made calls and had meetings with relevant authorities who have since dispatched some support which sadly is still stuck in transit. The above donation by my foundation is a simple token of my care, especially when compared to the magnitude of the devastation, destruction, inconveniences and suffering occasioned by the flood that has affected every person, family and community in the state.”