By Auwal Mohammed
Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Northeast Nigeria has commenced distribution of relief materials to 1092 household victims of floods which occurred in the month of July.
Head, Rescue and Rehabilitation at the Agency, Muhammad Garba, disclosed this while speaking during the presentation of relief materials to 53 households affected by floods in Gombe metropolis,
Head, Rescue and Rehabilitation of the Agency advised the people against building houses on water ways, as well as dumping of refuse in drainages, adding that in June and July, 23 persons were killed and five others missing.
Garba said that the agency will distribute 200 bags of rice, 137 bags of maize, 50 bags of millet, 20 of guinea corn, 65 jerry cans of palm oil, 92 pieces of five yards of brocade material, 130 pieces of wax material, as well as assorted household materials for onward distribution to victims affected by the July floods and the communal clash in Billiri town.
He explained that though the state government may not be in position to replace what each household lost to the floods, the gesture is meant to assist the victims and to give them hope.
Garba gave a breakdown of the communities affected to include: Ayaba in Billiri Local Government Area, where over 400 households were destroyed, Kufayi community in the same Billiri Local Government Area which was recently engulfed in a communal clash and Kamo ward in Kaltungo Local Government Area where an overflowing stream wreaks havoc over a hundred farmlands.
Another 435 households were also reportedly destroyed by floods in Dadin Kowa town in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area, adding that the agency has already distributed relief materials to 152 affected households in Kamo ward where beneficiaries received food items and clothing materials.
Commenting on behalf of beneficiaries from the Bolari area, Abdulsalam Muhammad expressed gratitude to the state government for coming to their assistance.
