The ravaging flood and the devastating consequences that visited several communities in different parts of Nigeria has left a bitter taste in the mouth of the victims.
The flood, which has been rated as worse than that of 2012 has brought untold hardship on several citizens of Nigeria, while the government is also perceived to be at its wit end as the enormity of the devastation seems to have overwhelmed the various governments.
Several communities have been submerged, unquantifiable properties destroyed and lives have been lost. Truly, it is an ill wind that blows nobody any good, because at the end of it, not only the immediate victims would suffer the consequences of the flood. It will surely have a spiral effect. Farmlands have been destroyed and this can only translate into scarcity of food in the near future.
Except something meaningful is done, especially encouraging dry season farming, the people would have to contend with severe shortage of food amidst a biting economy that people are presently battling with.
Delta State is one of the worst hit states by the flood as 21 of the 25 Local Government Areas of the state suffered greatly from the ravaging flood while hundreds of thousands have been rendered homeless. Means of livelihood, properties and livestock were completely destroyed.
To manage the situation and bring succour to the flood victims, the Delta State government has set up 11 camps at different locations in the state. Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has also established four camps and together, these camps have over 25,000 persons in the 15 camps
These camps have offered alternative accommodation to numerous flood victims.
The government has been providing all the day to day needs of the displaced persons while some persons have also provided support to some camps through donations of food, toiletries and finance.
Some well-meaning Nigerians have been supporting the efforts of the government by making donations to the displaced persons.
One of such donors is Pastor Jonathan Ukodhiko who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate for Isoko Federal Constituency who made donations to displaced persons in Isoko in Delta State.
Items he donated include, 100 bags of 50kg Rice, 10 cattle, 25 cartons of ice fish, 1484 tubers of yam, 20 cartons of peak Milk sachets and 2000 bags of sachet water.
Other items include 22 gallons of palm oil, 26 cartons of sardine, 250 mosquito nets, 150 cartons of noodles, 66 bags of garri, 250 pieces of mattresses, 250 blankets, 42 bags of beans, 20 cartons of milk tea, 22 bags of salt and 600 loaves of bread.
Ukodhiko said he was moved by the challenges being faced by the Internally Displaced Persons and thanked Dame Okowa, the 05-Initiative and his friends for their partnership.
According to him, “When the ravaging flood menace struck Isoko, some of us responded immediately, though not through donations first, but through immediate assessment of the situation and to ascertain how best to assist the people who are affected.
“Consequently, we visited several IDP camps and also commissioned a team of dedicated young men to move around with boats to the affected communities to enable us have a piece of first-hand information about the needs of our people who are displaced by the devastating flood and how best to help them.
“After careful appraisal of the flood situation and having known the needs of our people who are displaced, I was passionately moved by the desire to assist our people.
“I sincerely appreciate all my friends and associates who heeded this noble call of charity and responded bountifully. May God in his infinite mercy reward them accordingly for donating toward this charitable gesture passionately without coercion but out of pure love and kindness,” he stated.
The items were presented to the IDP camps at Isoko Central School Oleh, Odoro Primary School Oleh, Alaka Grammar School Ozoro and other Isoko communities impacted by the rampaging flood.
The Delta State government has also come out with several plans aimed at ameliorating the pain of the displaced persons.
For effective health care services at the IDP camps, the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme has extended its services to the various camps across the state.
The director general of the scheme, Dr Ben Nkechika who made this known to journalists in Asaba, said the aim was to ensure the health of displaced persons across the state.
He noted that by registering the displaced persons into the scheme, they are now entitled to treatment beyond what the medical facilities at the camp could offer.
He revealed that these persons would not pay any money as the state government would take care of every payment including the premium, adding that the scheme covers the father, mother and the children.
During the visit of the National Point to Oneh camp in Asaba, the Camp Commandant, Eugene Onwenonye spoke on the situation at the camp.
He revealed that things are moving on smoothly at the camp, though it was rough at the initial stage, adding that with the help of the state government and good spirited individuals, the camp was able to take proper shape.
According to the commandant, there are 3,026 Internally Displaced Persons registered in the Oleh Camp.
He revealed that there are five physically challenged persons in the camp while four births and one death had been recorded so far.
The camp commandant used the occasion to appeal to good spirited individuals to come to the aid of the displaced persons, informing that public support has been minimal.
“Apart from the government, we have not recorded much donations. However, we have received from few spirited individuals. We are appealing to individuals to come to the aid of these displaced persons. Government alone cannot do it. People should donate towards making sure that these people are lifted from their current state of mind and what they are experiencing now.”
He noted that everybody, including the children are well fed and learning is going on smoothly, adding that the teachers from the flood ravaged communities had been relocated to the camp for effective teaching and learning.
National Point equally spoke to some displaced persons who expressed their pains and expectations from government and well-meaning people.
One of the affected flood victims is Amaechi Oranyeli, a farmer from Oko, a community between Asaba and Onitsha.
According to him, feeding in the camp was okay but he lamented bitterly the loss of everything he had laboured for including his plantain, cassava and yam farms, to the flood
“I have plantain plantation, yam and cassava farms. All are completely gone with the flood. I have nothing today. I don’t even have clothes.
I am a farmer and I intend to go back to farming when the flood recedes.”
He appealed for support from government and good spirited individuals so that he can go back to farming after the flood.
Emmanuel Opene, a farmer and OND holder from Oko Polytechnic in Anambra State lamented the loss of everything he has to the flood.
“I have lost my farm and my properties. Apart from these clothes I am putting on, I don’t have anything else. Before the flood came, I was planning to go back to school to pursue my HND degree but all my investments have been destroyed by the flood.
“My father who could have helped is a retired headmaster and his gratuity has not been paid by the government. Everything is bad now as there seems to be no hope, he lamented.”
Emmanuel, hopes to go back to farming to raise money for his education. He also appealed to the state government and the general public for support to enable him pursue his academic ambition.
Blessing Ndubuisi, a pregnant woman, appealed to the government for support for pregnant women in the camp.
“We pregnant women need baths, mosquito nets and foams because we don’t have any of these things again as the flood destroyed everything. The authority should have mercy on us.”
She also appealed for government’s financial support to rebuild damaged houses as there would be nowhere to return to after the flood.
Madam Blessing, a farmer who cultivates yam, cassava and vegetables, said she lost everything to the flood.
She affirmed that the food in the camp is good and she was full of praises for the camp commandant, Mr. Eugene Onwenonye, who, she said had been a father figure in the camp.
However, she noted with sadness that there were some people in the camp who were not flood victims but have crashed in live in the camp. She frowned at such behaviour and called on the government to scrutinize and screen everybody in the camp before giving financial assistance because the aim of such fake persons is to get financial gain from the government fraudulently.
“Government should watch very well to know people that genuinely need help, especially farmers. There are some people in this camp who are not in anyway victims of the flood. They are just here pretending to be victims so that they can get something from the government. This is very bad,” Madam Blessing stated.
Chinaza Eze is a nursing mother from Imo state but resides in Oko. She said she is a trader but the flood has completely destroyed all her wares and other properties. She expressed satisfaction over the life in the camp, adding that learning was going on smoothly in the camp as her children had been attending classes regularly.
She, however, appealed to the state government and well-meaning individuals to come to their aid so that they can go back to their businesses again.
The flood is gradually receding and it is hoped that the victims find needed help to help them continue with their normal life after the flood.
