The Lulu-Briggs Foundation has distributed relief items worth N60 million to 2,000 families displaced by the ongoing flood emergency in Akinima, Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State in line with its humanitarian mandate.
The relief items, including food, toiletries, medication, wrappers and treated mosquito nets, were received with gratitude and joy.
The medical team that accompanied staff and volunteers also attended to over 700 patients.
The chairman of the foundation, Dr Seinye Lulu-Briggs said over the past 21 years, the foundation has remained committed to caring for the underprivileged through impactful interventions due to its mission.
“In addition to our routine work, the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation will provide humanitarian relief to Nigerians when disasters like the flood emergency so many people in Nigeria are facing occur. As the flooding worsened, we received many phone calls from communities where we have intervened over the years. The water rose very quickly. We heard that Akinima was submerged.
“We knew that reaching the families in the adhoc IDP camps in Akinima was urgent because they were isolated due to the water volume. A team that we sent on a reconnaissance mission a few weeks ago to assess the situation reported that the situation families were in was worse than what we witnessed ten years ago in the same places. We lent a helping hand then. We are standing with the displaced families now.”
Mrs Lulu-Briggs added that the flooding is a reminder that climate change is real. She called on governments and international bodies to support NGOs working where the impact of climate change is greatest to build resilience, adaptation and mitigation strategies on the ground.
She thanked the foundation’s partners, including the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, which provided logistics and security support, Old Port Harcourt City Association of Friends, the traditional ruler of Akinima Community and his Council of Chiefs, volunteers, friends and family.
