By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt – The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), on Thursday distributed relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by flood in various communities in Rivers.
The Interim Administrator of PAP, retired Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu delivered the relief items to the state task force on flood management in a short ceremony in Port Harcourt.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that relief materials distributed were 300 cartons of Indomie noodles, 40 bags of 50kg rice and 30 bags of 100kg garri.
Ndiomu, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Fraston Akpor, said that PAP was worried over the plight of those affected by flood in the country.
He said, “we embarked on this exercise to ameliorate the pains of displaced persons of flood-ravaged communities in Rivers state.
“The distribution of relief materials is borne out of our concern for victims who have been displaced from their homes and source of livelihoods.
“So, we are here to donate cartons of indomie noodles, bags of rice and bags of garri to cater for the immediate needs of those affected by the flood,” he said.
Ndiomu said that PAP was planning to commence the second phase of distribution of relief items to IDPs when the flood water rescinds.
He said the second phase of the exercise would include medical outreaches to cater for the health needs of victims in the various states affected by flood.
“We anticipate that during the post-flood phase, there will be an increase of illnesses like diarrhoea, cholera and malaria, among other water borne diseases.
“So, we are planning to organise a second phase of this exercise in collaboration with the various task forces on flood, emergency management agencies in the affected states.
“Aside this, we shall conduct a NEED Assessment of the victims of the flood, and thereafter, provide support according to the needs of the flood impacted states,” he said.
The interim administrator said that PAP had also delivered relief materials to flood victims in Bayelsa and Delta.
He said that several communities that his team visited in Patani Local Government Area of Delta were submerged by flood and called for more efforts to ameliorate the sufferings of victims.
Receiving the relief items, the Chairman of Rivers Task Force on Flood Management 2022, Dr George Nwaeke, thanked PAP for its humanitarian service to flood IDPs in the state.
Represented by Mrs Fortune Akpila, Director of Administration in the state Ministry of Special Duties, Nwaeke promised that the food stuff would be distributed to all persons affected by the disaster. (NAN)
