The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced the distribution of relief materials to 18, 904 households affected by flood in Anambra State.
At the event marking the commencement of the exercise, the Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed, explained that the Special National Economic and Livelihood Emergency Intervention was targeted at cushioning the effects of the flood disaster on the victims as well as the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of oil subsidy.
Alhaji Mustapha was represented by the agency's Assistant Director, Planning, Research and Forecasting, Mr Olusegun Afolayan.
"The 2022 flood disaster devastated many communities across the country, including Anambra state.
"After the flood incident, damage and loss assessment were conducted and relief items approved for 18,904 households in Anambra.
"The assessment was done in collaboration with the State Emergency Management Agency, hence, the distribution of the relief items to support the victims' quick return to normalcy, " NEMA DG said.
He warned the beneficiaries against selling the non-food items, which are meant to empower them and aid their quick recovery from the flood disaster.
In a remark, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, while appreciating the federal government for the intervention, noted that the negative effects of the flood disaster on the health, education and economic sectors among others are beyond the capacity of the state government.
Represented by his deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Prof. Soludo said plans are being perfected for the predicted flooding this year.
"Our administration is commitment to supporting programmes that would be directed towards alleviating the socio-economic hardship of the people of the state.
"In preparation for this year's flooding, the holding camps are already activated and people in the riverine areas will soon be moving in as the water level continue to rise this year," he said.
Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo, disclosed that the beneficiaries of the intervention were drawn from 10 Local Government Areas affected by the flood incident in the state.
items distributed include: sewing, machines, grinding machines, water pump machines, cooking stove, cooking pots, mattresses, mosquito nets, mats, soap, buckets, and blankets.
Others are herbicides, pesticides, growth enhancer, fertilizer, yam, rice, beans and maize seedlings, salt, garri, satchets of tomato pastes, vegetable oil and seasoning cubes.