Benue State Govt. distributes relief materials to flood victims

The Benue state government has established camps and began distribution of relief materials to flood victims in Makurdi, the state capital.

Ms Josephine Haba, member of the State Technical Committee on Flood, while distributing the relief materials at NKST Primary School, Wadata, said all verified victims would be attended to.

Haba said on Monday that the camps were established on Saturday following the flooding of some communities within the town.

The committee member stated that so far three camps have been established to include NKST Primary School, Wadata, Gaadi Comprehensive Secondary School, and Makurdi International Market.

She explained that though the registration of victims was still ongoing, the IDPs needed to eat and something to sleep on, hence the commencement of the distribution.

Haba, who is also the Director General of the Benue Peace Commission, said that the victims were being registered using the Kobo wallet.

The director general added that the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) was also on the ground verifying the registration.

She said that so far they were distributing rice, beds, and mosquito nets, adding that wash kits and other things would follow immediately.

Haba further said that IOM was already renovating the toilets and would build more as well as provide water for the camps.

Earlier, the camp manager, Mr James Iorhuna, said that they had registered over 150 households since the establishment of the camp on Saturday.

Iorhuna said that they would identify the needs of the victims and submit the same to the relevant authorities for effective action.

Mrs Ashi Aganyi, a flood victim said all her belongings were submerged and she had no where to take them other than the camp.

She said that the flood had become a yearly routine in the Inyongu community and urged the government to find a solution to the problem.

The flood affected areas include Gyado Villa, Wadata, Wurukum, Achussa, and parts of the North Bank, all in Makurdi metropolis.

Some residents were seen evacuating their personal belongings that were submerged.

One of the affected residents, Terhemba Pine, said he refused to relocate with his household to the designated points closer to their area because he thought that the flood would not come.

Pine, who is a landlord in the Achussa area of the state, explained that he had lost several valuables, including foodstuffs and his office documents.

“In this area, over 100 inhabitants are affected. The rain started at exactly 1:00 am and lasted till 12 pm on Monday.

“My children could not be able to go to school because they could not cross the main road leading to their schools,” he said.

When contacted, the Executive Secretary, State Executive Management Agency, Mr James Iorpuu, said that the agency was fully prepared to respond to the needs of those who might have been affected by flooding.

NAN / Foluke Ibitomi