The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has distributed relief materials to 18,904 households affected by flood in Anambra.

Mustapha Ahmed, Director General (DG) of NEMA, disclosed this in Awka during the distribution of the special national economic and livelihood emergency intervention to 2022 flood victims and vulnerable persons in the state.

Mr Ahmed, who was represented by Olusegun Afolayan, Assistant Director, NEMA, said that the intervention was to cushion the devastating effect of the flood, as well as the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.

“The 2022 flood disaster devastated many communities across the country, including Anambra state.

“After the flood incident, damage and loss assessments were conducted and relief items were approved for 18,904 households in Anambra.

“The assessment was done in collaboration with the State Emergency Management Agency, hence, the distribution of the relief items to support the victims’ quick return to normalcy,” he said.

The NEMA DG urged beneficiaries to make the best use of the items and avoid selling the non-food items, adding that they were expected to continue their livelihood through the empowerment.

Also speaking, Anambra Gov. Chukwuma Soludo, appreciated the federal government for the intervention, saying that the effect of the flood disaster was beyond the capacity of the state government to solve.

Mr Soludo, who was represented by his deputy, Onyekachukwu Ibezim, said the flood incident affected health, education and economic sectors, as well as the livelihood of residents.

“Our administration is committed to supporting programmes that will be directed towards alleviating the socio-economic hardships of the people of the state.

“In preparation for this year’s flooding, the holding camps have already been activated and people in the riverine areas will soon be moving in as the water level continues to rise,” he said.

Paul Odenigbo, executive secretary of SEMA, said that the beneficiaries were drawn from 10 local government areas affected by the flood.

The items distributed were sewing machines, grinding machines, water pump machines, cooking stoves, cooking pots, mattresses, mosquito nets, mats, soap, buckets, and blankets.

Others were herbicides, pesticides, growth enhancers, fertilizer, yam, rice, beans, maize seedlings, salt, garri, sachets of tomato pastes, vegetable oil and seasoning cubes.

One of the beneficiaries, Comfort Udeozor, from Ayamelum LGA, who got a sewing machine, thanked the government for the gesture, saying that the machine would help her cope with the current economic hardship in the country.

(NAN)