Epidemic looms in flooded Benue towns, NEMA assists Taraba victims

THE paramount ruler of Otukpo, Benue State, Chief John Eimonye, has alerted the state government of a looming epidemic in some flooded communities.He also voiced concern over the deteriorating health conditions of the victims in some parts of Otukpo district and called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant health institutions to step in to avert another disaster in the area.Eimonye told The Guardian in Otukpo that the people displaced by the flood apart from being exposed to the inclement weather of mosquito bites resulting into widespread of catarrh and fever, the flooded wells which have been the sources of water for the people have been contaminated thereby causing diarrhea in the area.Meanwhile, some of the victims who spoke to The Guardian lamented about their neglect three weeks after officials of NEMA visited them to take inventory of the destruction caused by the flood.Mr. Bello Oyihi, a carpenter whose three bed room flat, his yam and cassava farms were submerged by the flood, expressed dismay at the attitude of the local council care taker chairman, Mr. Gabriel Olofu whom he said had never visited the area to sympathize with the victims.Similarly, other victims including Ali Adigwu, Ogli Aboche, Okechi Ijoganu and Elakeche Ugama all appealed to NEMA and other well meaning individuals to come to their aid so as to reduce their sufferings.The Guardian further visited some flooded sites in Makurdi, the state capital and noticed that more houses are being taken over by the river Benue, with many victims still confused as to where to take refuge at the moment.Some of them voiced concern over their plight, and said that it was better to move their families to their villages than to camps.Meanwhile, succor has come to the displaced persons in all the affected local councils of Taraba State after a recent flood disaster, as NEMA has begun the distribution of relief materials.The Guardian noticed that items such as foodstuffs, beddings, clothing materials, to mention but a few, had been made available to the displaced people.Speaking with journalists in one of the camps, NEMA's Deputy Director in charge of Relief and Rehabilitation, Mike Adeyanju, described the disaster as 'overwhelming,' and assured of the agency's readiness to reach out to all the affected local councils in the state.Adeyanju who alongside his team and journalists took an assessment tour to the various communities submerged by the flood said that the disaster which carted away goods worth millions of naira, was caused by the global warming.
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