The Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Mohammed Goje, has disclosed that more than 65 per cent of victims of last Friday’s flood are women and children now taking refuge in nine host communities across the state.

The affected communities, according to him, are spread across five wards, including Old Prison, Filin Mashe, Unguwar Makafi (settlement for the blind), Unguwar Jaje Bakin Kwari, Afghanistan, Tsangaya, Karofi, and nine other settlements that were submerged, leaving many houses and livestock destroyed.

The agency’s report also revealed that most of the displaced persons are staying with relatives in the worst-hit wards.

Goje said: “Our field response team is working closely with other partners, like the State’s Emergency Management Ambulance Service, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), International Organisation for Migration (IOM) of the UN, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the Centre for Civilians in Conflict (CCC).”

He added that the partner agencies are currently conducting a thorough assessment of the situation before the distribution of food and other relief materials begins.