Flood, Windstorm Claim 75 Lives, Displace 6,592 In 255 Yobe Communities

The executive secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Dr Mohammed Goje has said floods and windstorms have killed 75 people in 255 communities in six months.

Goje disclosed this to newsmen when he spoke on the level of damage caused by the disaster in the 17 local government areas of the state.

He said the flood washed away 10 major roads and turned over 6,592 people to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the worst affected areas of Bade, Jakusko, Karasuwa, Gujba and Gulani local government areas.

“Seventy-five fatalities have been reported as a direct consequence of windstorm/floods with many more lives at risk (May to date) across 10 LGAs (including 11 due to boat mishaps) and over 200 sustained injuries and were treated free and discharged.

“Those in flood-prone areas and along waterways have been the hardest-hit by the floods. Preliminary reports and desk review indicate thus far 92 water points and lots of WASH facilities have been affected.

“This is particularly of huge concern in Jakusko, Bade, Gulani, Mutai and Geidam. In these and many other communities, water is not receding at all or doing so at a very slow pace. A total of 6,592 people have been internally displaced across the affected communities (transiting and returning as water flow subsides).

“This does not include IDPs returnee-communities who have limited access to farmlands and need specific support on protection as they may face vulnerability and may need to resort to negative coping strategies.

“In many of the affected communities, especially Gulani, Gujba, Tarmuwa and Jakusko, access roads have been disconnected. This has led to difficulty in delivering life-saving support. The good news is His Excellency has directed immediate reconstruction and provision of alternative routes and work has since commenced with three of the 10 roads now accessible,” Goje said.

He said SEMA along other frontline ministries and agencies as well as the local volunteers were working round the clock to help the affected communities as directed by Governor Mai Mala Buni.