BY IFEANYI UWAGWU
THE Delta State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting residents affected by the 2024 flood across 12 local government areas, assuring them of continuous assistance to cushion the devastating effects of the disaster.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Kingsley Emu, gave the assurance while distributing relief materials on behalf of the state government to impacted communities, at the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) warehouse, in Asaba, the State capital on Tuesday.
The relief items included 720 bags of 50kg rice, washing soaps, and insecticide-treated nets, aimed at providing immediate relief to affected families struggling to recover from the flood’s impact.
Addressing the Chairmen of the affected Local Government Councils, Dr Emu charged them with the responsibility of ensuring the fair and transparent distribution of the items.
He stressed that the government fully understands the hardship caused by the flood and remains committed to easing the suffering of affected residents.
“The state government feels your pain and will continue to do everything possible to alleviate your challenges. We are not just providing relief materials but also looking at long-term measures to address the flooding problem,” Dr Emu stated.
He further urged the local government leaders to explore ways to mitigate the effects of flooding in their respective communities.
He recommended the construction of elevated structures where people can take refuge when floodwaters rise and assured them of the state government’s support for any flood control initiatives they undertake.
Speaking on behalf of the affected local government chairmen, the Chairman of Bomadi Local Government, Hon. Dagidi Rawlings Andaye, expressed appreciation to the state government for its timely intervention.
He pledged that the relief materials would be distributed fairly to ensure they reach the most vulnerable residents.
“This support from the government means a lot to our people. We will do our best to ensure that these relief materials get to those who need them the most,” Andaye assured.
The benefiting local government areas include Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Patani, Oshimili South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Isoko North, Isoko South, Burutu, Bomadi, Warri North, and Aniocha South.
