Cross River flood victims receive FG’s aid

Victims of the flood disasters in Cross River have received food and other items from the Federal Government.

The Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), gave the donation to the victims, yesterday, in Calabar.

Presenting the items to the Director General (DG) of Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Princewill Ayim, the DG of NEMA, Mr. Mustapha Ahmed, said the Federal Government felt the pains of the people affected by the flood.

Ahmed, who was represented by the Director, of Disaster Risk Reduction, Dr. Daniel Obot, noted that the flood had rendered most families across the country homeless.

“To achieve flood reduction, we need to have a better understanding of flood disaster risk, by looking deeply into previous flood disasters.

“We need to strengthen the state emergency management agency and establish local government emergency management committees to manage disaster risk.

“We must take full advantage of early warning alerts from the hydro-meteorological services agency and the NEMA,” he said.

Ayim said 97 communities in 14 councils and 39,000 persons were affected by flood in the state.

While commending Federal Government for the donation, he said the flood disaster was caused by climate change.