Floods: FG begins distribution of UAE, BOI humanitarian donations

The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of food relief donations by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and 18, 653 bags of rice from the Bank of Industry (BOI), to flood victims in 16 states.

Flagging off the distribution yesterday in Abuja, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, said that the donations were to support the government’s effort at reducing the impact of the natural disaster on communities across the worst-hit states.

The DG said “We are handing over of 18, 653 bags of 10kg rice donated by the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the 50 tons (1,696 cartons) of humanitarian relief aid donated by the Government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) to support the ongoing efforts of the federal and state governments of Nigeria in mitigating the impact of the on-going flood and other disasters in the country.

“The donations of relief materials by both BOI and the Government of UAE symbolize the manifestation of deep sympathy for people severely impacted by disasters on the one hand, and a long-standing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the UAE, on the other.

She explained that the 18,779 bags of 10kg rice donated by BOI were shared with six (6) states to assist Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Camps across those states selected based on the number of IDPs in the state, the urgency and severity of needs of the affected persons.

The benefiting states include Imo state, 3,500 bags, Benue state, 3,000 bags, Plateau state, 1,669 bags, Jigawa state, 3,000 bags, Katsina state, 3,850 bags and Zamfara state, 3,634 bags.

Meanwhile, ten states have been listed as beneficiaries of the 50-ton intervention from the UAE. The states were selected based on the degree of flood impact and severity of need.

The states listed are Borno State with 256 cartons, Bauchi, 160 cartons, Sokoto, 160 cartons, Adamawa, 160 cartons, Kano, 160 cartons and Bayelsa state got 160 cartons too.

Others are Ondo state which got 160 cartons, Abia, 160 cartons, Rivers, 160 cartons and Enugu state, 160 cartons.

Earlier, Director Relief and Rehabilitation (NEMA) Abdullah Usur, said the gesture by UAE and BOI further entrenches the essence of a multi-stakeholder and multi-national approach to disaster management in a global perspective.

He said state emergency management agency coordinators from the benefiting states would take delivery of the items from the agency’s warehouses.