The wife of the Ebonyi governor, Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, on Tuesday commenced the distribution of relief materials to 550 victims of the 2022 flood disaster in the state.

The distribution occurred at the Old Government House in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Mrs Nwifuru said the gesture was to mitigate the huge effects of the disaster on the victims.

“Today, we witnessed the tangible manifestation of our government’s commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind during these difficult times.

“Your resilience in the face of adversity is inspiring, and we are here to support you as you rebuild your lives and communities,” Mrs Nwifuru said.

The director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Ahmed, reaffirmed that the measure was rolled out to mitigate the economic hardship faced by victims of the 2022 flooding in Ebonyi.

Mr Ahmed, represented by the zonal coordinator, South-East, Ngozi Echefu, harped on the need for the people in flood-prone areas to adhere always to all safety measures to prevent future occurrences.

“People should avoid disposing of waste in drains, and switch off electrical appliances when not in use to avoid further disasters,” he said.

The Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Ann Aligwe, said Governor Francis Nwifuru approved the distribution of the relief materials to cushion the harsh effect of the present economic situation on the fire and flood victims.

Ms Aligwe said the state provided the relief materials in conjunction with the federal government.

“Today, we are distributing these materials to victims of the 2022 flood and fire disasters to alleviate their plights.

“We have 10 phases of the distribution, and they will be done in 13 local government areas of the state,” Ms Aligwe added.

The relief materials included rice, beans, garri, insecticide-treated nets, blankets and mats. 

(NAN)