The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Thursday, commenced the distribution of 4,000 food baskets donated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), Saudi Arabia, to 4,000 vulnerable households in Anambra.

The Director-General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, launched the distribution of the items to vulnerable households already profiled in the state.

In a speech at the brief ceremony, Mrs Umar said, “I am delighted to announce that the centre has donated 24,302 food baskets, to be distributed directly to vulnerable persons in Anambra, Benue, Kebbi, Taraba and Yobe.”

Mrs Umar, represented by the Director of NEMA, South-East, Walson Brandon, said that the gesture was a humanitarian partnership between the agency and KSrelief.

She commended KSrelief, the government and people of Saudi Arabia for the relief support provided to vulnerable people in Nigeria, especially those affected by displacement, insecurity, disasters and difficult economic conditions.

The Secretary to the State Government, Chiamaka Nnaka, who received and officially distributed the items, thanked KSrelief, the federal government and NEMA for the gesture.

Ms Nnaka also commended NEMA and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (ASEMA) for ensuring that the profiled vulnerable people in the state benefited from the gesture.

She urged Anambra residents to be alert to prevent flooding as the rainy season intensifies.

Earlier, the Deputy Director of ASEMA, Ndidi Omega, said the items would be distributed to Awka South, Awka North, Ogbaru, Orumba North, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum and Nnewi South LGAs.

Each food basket contains a 25kg bag of rice, a 25kg bag of beans and a carton of condiments.

A beneficiary from Nise in Awka South, Emmanuel Afam, expressed gratitude to KSrelief and the Federal and State Governments for the gesture.

Another beneficiary from Awka South, Mary Okoye, said, “I am happy to be among the beneficiaries, God bless the people behind this.” 

(NAN)