The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has announced that it has distributed relief materials to victims displaced by flooding in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Ondo State.
Through an announcement on their X page on Thursday, the agency stated that heavy rainfall accompanied by windstorms on October 30 led to the displacement of residents in Emure-Ile in Owo LGA and Igbokoda in Ilaje LGA.
The Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, expressed sympathy for the people of Ondo State and its government.
The statement disclosed, “NEMA Ekiti Operations Office, in collaboration with Ondo SEMA, carried out the direct distribution of Federal Government approved relief materials to persons affected by the rain/windstorm disaster in Emure-Ile in Owo Local Government and Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government on Wednesday, 30th October 2024.”
Emphasizing the agency’s responsibilities, she said, “Disaster management is everybody’s business; therefore, citizens are encouraged to embrace a culture of disaster risk reduction activities, as this will help mitigate the adverse effects of disasters.”
Receiving the items on behalf of the state government, Hon. Princess Fayemi-Obayelu, Ondo State House of Assembly member representing Ilaje Constituency II, thanked the federal government for its prompt response.
Fayemi-Obayelu said the provided items would support the victims as they navigate this challenging period.
Notable items delivered included rice, garri, and vegetable oil, among others.
In attendance at the handover session were representatives from the Nigeria Red Cross, NSCDC, NPF, and members of the press.
In a separate event, the emergency agency, in collaboration with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and development partners nationwide, conducted unified assessments.
The aim of the assessment was to evaluate the flood’s impact on communities regarding shelter, livelihoods, food security, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), as well as access to information and education.
It was added that the assessment will provide recommendations on how to support the affected communities during the recovery stage.
The collaborative team consists of SEMAs, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
By Helen Okechukwu
