The Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Friday, launched the distribution of relief items to 507 households affected by the 2024 flooding in the state.

Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf performed the official handover of the items to the beneficiaries in Kibiya and Madobi Local Government Areas of the state.

Mr Kabir-Yusuf, represented by the commissioner for humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, Adamu Aliyu-Kibiya, applauded NEMA for its unwavering commitment to assisting the state with relief materials.

He also commended SEMA for its untiring efforts in ensuring that relief materials reached the affected communities.

“We remain committed to working closely with relevant agencies to enhance disaster preparedness and response efforts in Kano.

“The Kano Government will continue to strengthen collaboration with federal and state agencies to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our people,” he said.

The director-general of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, said the gesture was part of the federal government’s interventions for flood-affected persons.

Mrs Umar, represented by the state coordinator of NEMA Territorial Office, Nura Abdullahi, said the federal government approved the relief materials after receiving an assessment report of the incidents in the affected communities.

She said, “The Federal Government shares their concerns and is committed to supporting them during this challenging time.”

Ms Umar said that the items included 500 bags of 25kg rice, 500 bags of 25kg maize, 45 cartons of tomato paste, 45 cartons of vegetable oil, 45 cartons of seasoning cube and 20 bags of iodized salt.

The executive secretary of SEMA,  Isyaku Kubarachi, urged the beneficiaries not to sell the items but utilise them for the purpose they were meant to serve.

A beneficiary, Nura Sani, lauded the government for its intervention, saying that it would go a long way to alleviate their hardship.

 (NAN)