THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has disclosed that nine people died while 8,540 houses were destroyed as a result of various flood disaster in Zamfara State.
Speaking while presenting relief materials to Zamfara State government, the Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, said the gesture was part of Federal Government’s assistance to flood disaster victims in the state.
Sani-Sidi disclosed that hydro-meteorological disasters have affected several states across the country, which Zamfara State was part of the hits areas.
The DG, NEMA, who was represented by the Director, Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr. Eugeune Eze, explained that flood disasters have caused substantial damage to lives and livelihood.
According to him, initial report had indicated that eight out of 14 local councils in the state were affected, which include Gusau, Shinkafi, Anka, Gummi, Tsafe, Zurmi, Bungudu and Bakura.
He maintained that 6,450 hectares of farmlands were affected, 8,540 houses were affected or destroyed and a total of nine people died as a result of the flood disasters in the state.
“A total of nine persons died as a result of the flood disasters in the state. I learnt that a mother and her four children lost their lives in a single incident at Nasarawa Tudun Wada in Gusau local council.”
The DG stressed that these incidents necessitated his visit to the state to commiserate with the government and people and to also present relief materials to those affected as part of Federal Government assistance to alleviate their sufferings.
“Management of natural disaster needs proactive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) measures, in collaboration and coordination of emergency response organisations, early warning and early action.”
Items presented to the victims include 1,120 bags of rice, 2,240 bags of maize, 1,800 bags of beans, 300 bundles of roofing materials, cement, detergents, blankets and plastic buckets.
In his response, Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Professor Abdullahi Shinkafi, appreciated NEMA’s effort.
