Sam kaye
The United Nations (UN) resident humanitarian coordinator Mohammed Fall yesterday visited Maiduguri with top agencies which has already formed a formidable team to work to save lives.
In the midst of the receding flood which has swallowed several lives, he went round several areas humanly possible to penetrate.
Fall and his team who visited on Saturday said he was able to have an on the spot assessment of the devastation in the state capital before paying a visit to the Governor, Babagana Zulum to fine tune his findings on the way forward in the flood management.
During his visit, Fall emphasized coordination among UN agencies and non governmental agencies which to him was needed to get proper and timely results at this auspicious time.
In a post-assessment news briefing held at the UN ocha office in maiduguri, Fall said he was told that thousands are still trapped in their homes in remote areas of surrounding council areas unable to come out into the uncertainty of the flood waters and it was their business to support the government in getting them out alive.
“In the process of helping out, we will have to prioritize by looking for trapped people in the metropolis first before anything. That is paramount if we must make progress.
“Because we hear that thousands of residents are still trapped in their homes in the midst of the devastating flood which has destroyed a lot of lives and properties.
” we will continue to work with the health emergency centre of the state government to ensure that all is well with residents before the water goes down completely.
“Let’s face it, the primary responsibility of salvaging these people is in the hands of the state government but I want to assure you that we will support them in any way necessary to save our common humanity.
“I have seen women who lost every thing they had to the flood but we are sure they will have the support from them where necessary. To him the first priority is to save lives and to ensure that they enjoy their humanity”
Over half a million people have been displaced in the aftermath of the flood after the Auno dam burst through its seams and flooded the entire city centre bringing down vital infrastructures like bridges and roads in its trail.
Over eighty souls have perished directly and indirectly from the effect of the rage of the flood water from the Auno dam almost 20km away from the city centre.