Anambra Flood: One Confirmed Dead, 651,000 Displaced

By Damilare Adeleye

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has disclosed that one person identified as Ginikanwa Izuoba, has lost his life in the Enugu-Otu, Aguleri flood.

Thickman Tanimu, the Acting State Coordinator of NEMA in Anambra, confirmed the development to newsmen in Awka on Saturday, saying that that Izuoba died, when his house collapsed due to the impact of the flood.

Mr Tanumu also said that no fewer than 651,053 persons in six local government areas of the state has so far been displaced by flooding.

He said that the agency had undertaken an assessment of flooding in different parts of the state, adding that that Ogbaru had the highest number of victims with 286,000 persons.

The Acting State Coordinator stated Anambra West and East Local Government Areas (LGAs) followed with 237,000 and 103,000 victims, respectively.

He added that Awka North LGA had 10,345 victims, while Ayamelum had 9,240 flood cases with 5,468 displaced persons.

Mr Tanimu said that NEMA, accompanied by officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) have visited Umueze-Anam, Mkpunando, Umunteze, Igbedo, Inoma Ifite-Ogwari in Anambra East and Anyamelum LGAs.

He said, “The assessment team observed that the flood has submerged houses, farmlands, schools, health centres, Police Stations and Churches and other critical infrastructure.

“We did the assessment tour with a boat because the access roads to the communities have been submerged by flood water.”

Mr Tanimu, however, hailed Anambra SEMA for taking some proactive measures to mitigate the impact of the disaster.

He noted that some of the measures included the identification of 13 IDPs camps, recruitment of camp managers and support staff and activation of health workers to work with people in the camps.

He also listed the camps so far activated to include the Ifite-Ogwari and Igbakwu Health Centres.

According to him, “The assessment tour is the first step the Federal Government has to take.

“We have reported our findings to the management of the agency and based on that, they can now deploy relief materials as appropriate.”

He listed clothing, diapers, bedding, sanitary materials and food items, amongst others as part of the relief materials.

“We once again advise villagers to move to the holding camps to avert further loss of lives,” Tanimu stated.