The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has begun community dialogue with flood-prone communities on preparedness ahead of a flood emergency in Niger.

Florence Terzungwe, the UNICEF facilitator for Bosso LG, said at a community dialogue with members of Marikichi that the efforts were to prepare members of flood-prone communities on measures to take ahead of a flood emergency.

Four hundred compound meetings would be conducted with flood-prone communities in 13 local government areas of Mokwa, Edati, Lavun, Gbako, Agaie, Katcha, Lapai, Bosso, Shiroro, Rafi, Wushishi, Mashegu and Borgu.

Ms Terzungwe added that the efforts were to educate the Marikichi community prone to flooding on keeping a healthy lifestyle and ensuring that their children and pregnant women are protected, getting access to good nutrients and education during flood emergencies.

“We prepare the community on what to do in terms of emergencies such as flood, how they will protect their children, pregnant women to avoid diseases such as diarrhoea and other diseases associated with lack of hygiene,” the UNICEF officer stated.

She added, “We are also educating them on hygiene, how to keep their environment clean to have a healthy life and to ensure that they store food in safer resettlement environment, ensure there is potable water and healthcare consumables.”

Bala Musa, the UNICEF focal person in NOA, said the meeting was to prepare communities along river banks to be proactive ahead of emergency to reduce the impact of floods on lives and property.

“Members of the communities are told to be proactive by ensuring that they store food, drugs and provide potable water on safer ground as part of preparedness ahead of an emergency,” he said.

Farida Sanda, a community volunteer in Bosso Central I, members of the communities were educated on healthy lifestyles before and after an emergency.

Abdulmalik Tukurah, the village head of Marikichi, disclosed that over 100 houses were destroyed due to windstorms in the community.

He commended UNICEF and NOA for educating community members on preparing themselves for an emergency, adding that the gesture would go a long way in reducing the impact of flood disasters in the community.

(NAN)