The Delta State Government has established ten camps to house internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the flood in 19 of the state’s 25 Local Government Areas.
Mr Eugene Uzum, Director-General, State Orientation Bureau, stated this at a news conference on Friday in Asaba on the government’s efforts to rescue lives and property in the aftermath of the ravaging flood across the state.
Uzum stated that, in addition to the ten existing IDP camps, the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) developed two additional camps in the Warri axis.
According to Uzum, DESOPADEC is also opening clogged drains in the area to allow water to flow, thereby reducing the impact on the communities.
He stated that the situation had deteriorated to the point that some of the affected communities had been overrun by reptiles such as snakes and crocodiles.
Uzum urged the Federal Government, corporate organisations, and generous individuals to come to the people’s help and give relief goods during this auspicious moment.
While the immediate goal is to save those affected, their families, and their property, he believes the Federal Government should build new dams along the coast to provide a more lasting solution to the periodic flooding.
“The government has also opened up distribution centres at various locations to take the relief materials from the Federal Government, corporate organisations and individuals to support the displaced persons.
“The people have started enrolling at the various camps and I must say that the challenge has been critical and it’s going to be more than that of 2012.”
He went on to say that his agency was working with traditional rulers, political advisors, and president generals of the affected communities to identify vulnerable people.
“As we speak, all the eight LGAs in Delta South; six LGAs in Delta North and five LGAs in Delta Central Senatorial Districts have been taken over by flood.
“Presently, we have both short and long-term solutions to this problem of yearly flooding; the current intervention to save lives and properties is one.
“The long-term solution has to do with the dredging of the River Benue and the River Niger as well and build the needed dams to take away the large volume of the water that flows across the impacted states.
“So, we are appealing to the Federal Government, corporate organisations and individuals to give their support to the impacted communities in the state,” Uzum said.
Uzum, on the other hand, stated that no official death reports had been received as a result of the flooding in the state.
Currently, just six of Delta’s 25 LGAs have not been affected by the flood.
