The Anambra State House of Assembly has urged Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to construct more permanent internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps to cushion the effect of flooding in the riverine areas of the state.

The House resolution followed a motion moved under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, by Noble Igwe, representing Ogbaru Constituency l, at plenary on Tuesday.

Mr Igwe said that there had been a regular annual overflow of the bank of River Niger, leading to flooding of the adjoining communities.

He lamented that previous administrations did not provide adequate measures to curb the menace of flood on affected victims.

“The devastating effect of the flood on lives, properties and activities within the affected region is enormous.

“It is worrisome that people are normally displaced from their homes for some months on annual basis with the attendant hardship on their lives and health.

“Children and aged persons have become vulnerable to threatening hazards associated with non-provision of adequate holding camps for such emergencies.

“Therefore, there is an urgent need for intervention. The state government can establish standard holding centres for flood-displaced persons at strategic places to contain such anomalies,” he said.

In her views, Nkechi Ogbuefi, representing Anaocha Constituency l, said that women and children were the most affected in cases of flooding.

“The floods usually force hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and majority of these people are women and children.

“Due to the lack of shelter and camps, women and children are malnourished and they contend with water-borne diseases like cholera, malaria and dysentery.

“There is the need to construct permanent IDP camps in those riverine areas with humanitarian assistance and medical services to safeguard their health and safety,” she said.

Contributing, Anthony Muobike, representing Aguata Constituency ll, said that there was a need to prioritise proactive measures to prevent the flood from affecting people and properties in the state.

Also speaking, Patrick Udoba, representing Anambra West Constituency, urged the federal government to start immediate dredging of the Rivers Niger and Benue and other rivers across the country.

He said that the dredging would curb the challenges of perennial flooding and its resultant loss of lives and property.

The Speaker of the House, Somtochukwu Udeze, urged the relevant agencies saddled with the responsibility of flooding to do the needful.

“The Assembly called on Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to establish more permanent holding centres for flood victims in each of the riverine areas in the state,” he said.

The house adjourned until July 20 for plenary.

(NAN)