Some flood victims in Taraba State have lauded the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for its myriads of interventions and support services which cover different areas including health, education, infrastructure development, poverty eradication and assistance to victims of disasters.
Specifically, they commended the NEDC providing drugs worth millions of naira to the Taraba state government for distribution to victims of flood disaster in the state describing the gesture as a clear demonstration of the Commission’s humanitarian posture.
The NEDC had donated consumables and non-consumable drugs to the Taraba state government through state ministry of health, for distribution to persons affected by the recent flood disaster that affected some areas in Jalingo, the state capital and some communities in Zing,Yoro, Lau, Jalingo, Ardo-Kola, Ibi and Sadauna local government areas.
Our correspondent reports that the flood incidence that occurred in Jalingo for instance, affected no fewer than 300 houses and business premises which were submerged, following a downpour that lasted for hours.
The flood followed heavy rainfall which started at about 4am and lasted for four hours. The flood mostly affected houses and business premises located close to river Mayo-Gwoi, Magami Bypass and some of the premises located in the suburb of the town.
It would be recalled that residents of communities the flood disaster that swept across some local government areas of the state appealed to both Taraba and federal government to come to their aid.
Findings by LEADERSHIP revealed that some of the affected residents have relocated, following their forced displacement by the disaster which has led to some of the affected communities being waterlogged and deserted.
It is observed that houses, farmlands and valuables estimated at millions of Naira have been lost to the floods.
One of the residents from Ibi Henry Agbu, who spoke via telephone could not give an actual figure of those displaced by the flood within the area. He however said thousands are now leaving in public school premises and safer parts of their local government areas where they are taking refuge.
The chairman of Ibi LGA, Bala Bako, who also spoke to LEADERSHIP, he listed Mala, Taga, Ibi, Dampar as some of the most affected communities.
“So many farmlands have been washed away and our people are homeless.We have submitted situation report to both the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA and the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, but we are yet to get relief items for our displaced persons.”
Moved by the reports of this disaster and its impact in some communities that were affected by the incidence, the NEDC activated its intervention plans hence the donation of drugs for onward distribution to the victims as part of measures to prepare them for disease outbreak as is often the case during floods.
Presenting the drugs to officials of the Taraba state government, Bashir Hamajurde Ngoroje who led the NEDC team said the donation become necessary in view of the urgent need to provide succour to the victims adding that the gesture was aimed at ‘ameliorating the untold hardships caused by the flood to the people’.
While reaffirming the determination of the Commission to intervene in critical areas with a view to ensure improved standard of living for residents of the Northeast region, Ngoroje urged other well-meaning citizens to also support victims of disasters.
He enjoined the officials of the Taraba state government to ensure judicious distribution of the drugs by making it available to affected victims noting “you will agree with us that it is vital and important for the victims whom the drugs were brought into the state for, to be the beneficiaries.’
The NEDC, Ngoroje said, would not waver from its task of providing support at all times, to victims of disaster stressing that ‘the Commission shall, in line with its mandates, rise to the occasion at all times and ensure victims of disasters get the sort of support necessary to mitigate the impact of the calamity that befall them’.
For his part, the Permanent Secretary of Taraba state ministry of Health, Madaki Musa who received the donations on behalf of the state government, described it as timely. He said the government would work round the clock in ensuring that the items get to the victims of the disaster.
He described NEDC action as a good development to the state and the beneficiaries, Musa thank NEDC for always been at immense support to state government particularly in times of disaster.
The Permanent Secretary further stated that the state government acknowledged the fact that the victims had suffered a lot during the flood disasters, he also assured the Commission of the state’s cooperation and support all the times.
LEADERSHIP report that following recent flood disaster in the state, several houses, business centers, farmlands and livestock worth millions of naira were destroyed and submerged in some local government areas of the state.
Apart from the havoc wreaked by the disaster, unspecified numbers of persons especially women and children, have been displaced and as should be expected, the situation has exposed them to various forms of ailments.
A cross section of persons affected by the disaster who spoke to our correspondent lauded the NEDC for providing succour to the victims and urged the state government to ensure equitable distribution.
“Our governor should also direct the local government areas to come to our aid and importantly, he should watch to ensure the items are distributed to real beneficiaries. As for the NEDC, we cannot thank them enough”, a youth leader, James Bako, said.
