11 YEAR OLD GIRL DROWNS AS FLOOD RAVAGES EDO AND DELTA STATES OF NIGERIA
Besides, an unconfirmed report indicated that two persons drowned
around Anwai area of Asaba, the state capital.
Daily Sun gathered that six council areas in the state, including Ndokwa East, Oshimili South, Burutu, Ughelli South, Patani and Bomadi were already flood prone.
In Asaba, the state capital, Oshimili South council, residents in coastal communities were seen making frantic efforts to salvage their property from the rampaging flood.
Home of the state chairman of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Edwin Uzor, located in Oko area has reportedly gone under water just like other houses within the neighborhood.
Other communities so far affected by the flood in Oshimili South include Oko-Ogbelle, Oko-Amakom, Oko-Analla, Powerline, Ogbe-Ofu Phase I and II, Marine, Cable Point, Nnebisi, Infant Jesus and Anwain.
Also in Edo State, ravaging flood from the River Niger has already submerged over 40 houses and farmlands in Udaba, Anegbette, Oghomere communities in Etsako Central Local Government Area of the state.
Consequently, many residents of the affected communities have started relocating to nearby communities of Fugar and Auchi in Etsako Central and Etsako West local government areas, just as they have embarked on premature harvest of their crops.
Village head of Udaba, Chief David Inetakpe, said non-completion of the resettlement camp being built in the area by the Federal Government had led to some of the victims relocating to their families in other villages while some others had moved to the upland.
In his comments, the village head of South Uneme Oliola, Chief Yakubu Ugbodaga, said the flood had impacted negatively on the lives of the people, even as he expressed fear that the water level kept increasing by the day.
Also commenting on the flood, the state’s immediate past commissioner for Land and Housing, Mr. Donald Osikhena, lamented that there was no response from the government since the problem started last Friday.
He said the flood victims resettlement camp was yet to attain 40 percent completion, observing that the contractor handling it had abandoned it.
Following the 2012 devastating flood that hit the country and the affected communities, the Edo State Government issued early warnings to the communities to relocate but the warnings were allegedly ignored.
Meanwhile, succour may have come the way of the flood victims as the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah told newsmen that the state government was already making preparations to rehabilitate them in temporary camps.
Ukah said the flood management committee headed by Deputy Governor Kingsley Otuaro was in the field distributing relief materials and relocating the victims.
“We are relocating the victims in Ndokwa East council to somewhere in Ashaka, Utagbogbe and the stadium at Kwale. We are also making arrangement to relocate the victims in Asaba to the Asaba Township Stadium. Fumigation exercise in these camps is going on,” he said.
He confirmed the death of the 11-year-old girl at Okpai, Ndokwa East, adding that the water level has risen to disturbing height in Burutu, Bomadi and Patani councils, even as he appealed to residents in coastal areas to voluntarily relocate before the flood catches up with them.
Posted by vivian onukwufor by 4:55pm.
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