By Sam kaye
The story of Alau Dam overflow in Maiduguri left in its trail death and pains as many lost their loved ones and had lots of their properties washed away.
In its wake, it left.many homeless, frustrated, angry hopeless and to address the issuing challenges associated challenge,the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has flagged off the distribution of relief materials to displaced residents state capital, Maiduguri.
The flood disaster struck Maiduguri due to overflowing water from Alau Dam, last week displacing nearly 2 million people within Maiduguri Metropolis and environs some of who are taking refuge in about 36 camps scattered around the city.
The flag-off ceremony of the 25kg bags of rice, pasta and N10, 000 cash took place, Monday, September 16, at Bakasi Camp along Damboa Road in Maiduguri, the state capital
Speaking to journalists, after the flag off, Zulum decried the fact that many people not affected by the flood are trouping to the IDP camps, thereby making it difficult for smooth operations to take place in the recognized camps.
“We observed that it is no more sustainable to continue receiving people in the camps because many people that were not affected are trouping to the camps.” the Governor regretted.
In addition to distributing relief materials, the Governor also announced plans to comprehensively assess the affected areas, which will inform future interventions to residents.
“So we decided to mobilise the resources and ensure that each affected victim had the relief items.
“We have also concluded arrangements that we shall do the assessment at the communities to verify the actual number of those that were affected.”he stressed.
Also speaking, the senator representing Borno Central, Barr. Kaka Shehu, commended the Governor for his leadership.
“Let me commend the Governor for providing leadership. Since the flooding started; he was out with his entire team trying to carry out search and rescue and assisting his people.
“I also joined His excellency in commending our donors and urging others to complement the government in assisting victims,” Senator Kaka Shehu said.
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, highlighted her agency’s interventions for victims of the flood disaster.
Since the flooding started, she noted that the agency has been providing shelters and mobile water purifiers to provide clean drinking water to those affected.
Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Zulum has acknowledged the receipt of
food donation from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to support the victims of the recent flood disaster.
The occasion was attended by the Senator representing Borno North, Barrister Mohammed Tahir Monguno, members of the House of Representatives, and Borno State Executive Council.
More than fifty other camps have been created by residents who alleged they have been displaced in critical areas and do not have where to sleep.
Krestnews Hundreds of residents were seen inside mosquito nets sleeping along Baga road over the weekend.