Ahoada (Rivers) – The Nigeria Army 6 Division Port Harcourt, and the O.B Lulu-Briggs Foundation on Wednesday distributed food and other relief items worth N30 million to flood victims in Rivers.
Commanding Officer of 29 Battalion under the division, Lt.-Col. Mohammed Mashegu delivered the relief items to more than 2,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Akinima community, Ahoada West in Rivers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the relief items comprised packs of rice, garri, dried fish; cartons of indomie noodles, beverages and plates.
Others are mosquito treated nets, anti-malaria medicines, wrappers, sanitary towels and toiletries.
Mashegu said distribution of the relief items was done in collaboration with the Lulu-Briggs Foundation to provide aid to those affected by floods in the state.
“The 29 Battalion being the disaster response unit of the army in Rivers decided to support the Foundation to bring succour to IDPs in Akinima community.
“The army is ever willing to support emergency relief agencies to provide assistance to people displaced by flood as part of our civil-military relations.”
Mashegu said the army does not engage in cases of insecurity alone but also assists civil authorities in the event of disasters like the current flood crises across the country.
“So far, we have evacuated a lot of people from the hinterlands in Ahoada West and Ahoada East Local Government Areas to safer havens.
“We are currently in Akinama in collaboration with the Foundation, to distribute relief materials to people displaced from their homes and livelihoods.
“After here (Akinima), we will move to other camps to support other well meaning individuals who are eager to come to the aid of flood victims,” he said.
The commanding officer said the army was ready to collaborate with organisations and individuals who desired to distribute relief items but were concerned over their safety and accessibility to the IDPs camps.
The Chairman of the Foundation, Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs said the distribution of the relief items was done to ameliorate the pains of the IDPs.
According to her, the Foundation donated the relief items to complement and support the state government efforts in providing assistance to the campers.
“Aside the fact that the flood is an adverse effect of climate change, individually, we must refrain from dumping refuse in drains and building on flood plains.
“Also, the government needs to comply with all environmental laws, so that we don’t spend resources on the impact and after-effects of flooding instead of preventing it,” Lulu-Briggs told the campers.
On his part, the Programme Officer Access to Potable Water and Sanitation, Ronald Frey said the relief items cost the foundation over N30 million.
NAN reports that army officers and officials of the Foundation distributed the relief items directly to the victims following allegations by the IDPs that their camp managers diverted palliatives previously donated to them.
The decision to distribute the relief items directly to the campers drew loud cheers and applause from the elated IDPs. (NAN)
