The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday launched the distribution of relief materials to persons and communities affected by windstorm and fire in four local government areas (LGAs) of Abia.

The distribution was performed in Umuahia, in collaboration with the Abia State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

The LGAs involved were Aba South, Umuahia North, Umuahia South, and Obingwa.

The relief assistance included bags of rice, beans, salt, cartons of spaghetti and seasoning cubes, tomato paste, vegetable oil, detergent, and mosquito nets.

In a remark, the SEMA Executive Secretary, Sunday Jackson, congratulated the beneficiaries for receiving approval after proper assessment and documentation.

Mr Jackson charged community leaders to ensure the items got to the actual victims of the disasters in their communities.

“These items cannot replace the damage caused by the disasters, but they are meant to cushion the impact that has befallen these communities,” he said.

He commended the Director-General (D-G) of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, for her dynamic leadership and appreciated Governor Alex Otti for providing an enabling environment for disaster management to thrive in the state.

In a speech, the Head of Operations of NEMA (Imo and Abia), Nnamdi Igwe, said the agency’s intervention was to reduce the pain suffered by the victims.

“What we do is to play a big brother role. On behalf of our D-G, Mrs Zubaida Umar, and the Federal Government, we are here to hand over these materials to Abia.

“While these items cannot replace lives or property lost, they will help reduce the pressure on the victims,” Mr Igwe said.

He urged communities to always report disasters to NEMA through SEMA to enable prompt federal intervention.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiary communities, Elee Chinatu, from Ohia Ocha Community in Aba South LGA, expressed appreciation to both the state and federal governments for their timely intervention. 

(NAN)