Flood Crisis: ‘Help! My People Facing Unprecedented Hardship’ – Anambra Monarch

By Olisemeka Sony

The traditional ruler of Umuoba Anam Kingdom, Igwe (Sir) George Ekwealor (Oba Agu II), has called for urgent and sustained humanitarian assistance to victims of the 2022 flood crisis in Anambra state, especially Anambra East and West local government areas of the state.

This, he said, was to enable the flood victims cushion the effects of the crisis.
The monarch who spoke to AnambraDaily shortly after undertaking a tour of the various relief camps sheltering flood victims in Umuoba Anam, Umueri, and Aguleri where persons and families, numbering hundreds of thousands, and sacked by the flood were taking refuge, disclosed that the conditions of most victims in the area were critical and that, without further and sustained support from federal, state and local government authorities as well as NGOs and good-spirited individuals, the flood crisis would have devastating effects on the population in the area.

He said: “This year’s flooding is unprecedented as it has surpassed that of 2012. Right now, what is being considered is whether it €has reached the level of the flooding that took €place during the Nigeria civil war which many considered as the peak in living memory of the flood crisis in our area.

“And as you know, the entire Anambra West Local government has been submerged by this flood, just as most communities in Anambra East, Ayamelum, Ogbaru, Awka North, and so on. You can imagine the fact that the entire Anam made up of eight populous communities has been sacked by this flood and now taking refuge in various IDP camps in Otuocha, Onitsha.”

Igwe Ekwealor confessed: “When I visited the relief camp at Unity Primary School, Umuoba Anam Otuocha as well as other schools at Umueri and Aguleri where most people from Anam are sheltered, I was moved to tears due to the pitiable condition of the inmates.
“We discovered that many of the inmates sleep on the bare floor due to the non-availability of such essential supplies. There are some that were sick but don’t have access to medical treatment because of lack of money.

Though some people are donating food stuff to the camps to ensure that the inmates are fed, but these supplies are not enough.
“Many of them, especially women and children, the aged are not feeding well and that is because they have lost everything to the flood and cannot afford to take care of even their basic needs. They find it difficult to cope with this sudden misfortune which was no fault of theirs.

That is why we are calling on government and non-government organizations, religious organisations and even well-meaning individuals to come to their aid at this critical time of their needs to avoid worsening the crisis. You can imagine what would happen if there is epidemic in those camps. God forbid!”, he said.
Also speaking on the same vein, the chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Anambra East Local Government Area, High Chief Joseph Emeka Ekwealor thanked the state government led by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for coming to the aid 5 the victims of the flood crisis.

He however, stressed that more relief efforts are needed to the victims of this flood disaster.
“Assessments at the various camps clearly show that the assistance coming their way are not enough. They lack basic supplies like sleeping materials, toiletries, clean water, medical attention and so on. So, there is a need for everybody to rally behind them at this critical point in time and offer whatever help we can.

According to the APGA chieftain, the damages already done to properties and investments made by people in the area were unprecedented, even as he lamented the impending hardship that may come with it. “Right now, we are talking about taking care of the displaced victims.

In a few weeks’ time when the flood recedes, they would be sent back to their farms and communities where they would most likely start from scratch to rebuild their lives. With their homes wreaked, crops are gone and no money to restart, it would be more misery for them.

“That is why I am seizing this opportunity to appeal to the state and federal government to put in place adequate measures to ensure that the victims receive adequate relief packages that would enable them to cushion the effects of the flood crisis, otherwise, it would take them many years to recover and many more would end up poorer.