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All primary, post primary and
tertiary schools in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra have been
temporarily closed down in reaction to the flood disaster in the area.
tertiary schools in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra have been
temporarily closed down in reaction to the flood disaster in the area.
The council Chairman, Mr. Arinze Awogu disclosed this while
inaugurating the distribution of relief materials at the council headquarters,
Atani on Tuesday.
inaugurating the distribution of relief materials at the council headquarters,
Atani on Tuesday.
Awogu said the closure of the schools was in line with the
directive of Gov. Willie Obiano who said schools in the affected areas should
close down to avert loss of life.
directive of Gov. Willie Obiano who said schools in the affected areas should
close down to avert loss of life.
“We are in an emergency situation and for us, safety of life is
paramount, people will not have need for education when they are dead.
paramount, people will not have need for education when they are dead.
“So in line with the directive of the governor, we have asked that
all the schools in Ogbaru be temporarily shut down,” he said.
all the schools in Ogbaru be temporarily shut down,” he said.
He said that a 12-man Local Emergency Management Committee had
been set up to ensure effective rescue and coordination of victims as well as
distribution of relief materials to those in Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs) camps.
been set up to ensure effective rescue and coordination of victims as well as
distribution of relief materials to those in Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs) camps.
The council boss said Ogbaru had taken delivery of buckets,
mattresses, mats, mosquito nets and blankets from the State Emergency
Management Agency (SEMA) but noted that it was still a far cry from what was
required.
mattresses, mats, mosquito nets and blankets from the State Emergency
Management Agency (SEMA) but noted that it was still a far cry from what was
required.
According to Awogu, about 190 households comprising of no less
than 1, 100 persons are presently at the three IDPs camp located at the council
secretariat, Community primary school Odoekpe and St James Anglicans Church,
Iyiowa.
than 1, 100 persons are presently at the three IDPs camp located at the council
secretariat, Community primary school Odoekpe and St James Anglicans Church,
Iyiowa.
He noted that 13 out of the 16 villages were on the coastal bank
of River Niger and all had been critically affected by flood adding that the
remaining three were also highly exposed to the menace.
of River Niger and all had been critically affected by flood adding that the
remaining three were also highly exposed to the menace.
The chairman, who had also been sacked from his house, said no
life had been lost to the flood in Ogbaru at the moment stressing that
destruction of property, farm, farm produce and livelihood of the people was
massive.
life had been lost to the flood in Ogbaru at the moment stressing that
destruction of property, farm, farm produce and livelihood of the people was
massive.
He urged people to move to the camps and decried their reluctance
to leave their ancestral homes.
to leave their ancestral homes.
“We are close to where we found ourselves on 2012, when the water
height was 12.84 metres and as at yesterday it stands at 11. 80 metres, so you
can see how close we are to it.
height was 12.84 metres and as at yesterday it stands at 11. 80 metres, so you
can see how close we are to it.
“There are 16 communities in Ogbaru and 13 of them are along the
river bank; all these towns are terribly submerged.
river bank; all these towns are terribly submerged.
“These are Odoekpe, Atani, Akiri, Ochuche, Mputu, Osamala,
Oguikpele, Obaogume and Ummunankwo and they are all gone.
Oguikpele, Obaogume and Ummunankwo and they are all gone.
“Others are Obagu, Umuzu, Obaogume, Ogbakuma, all these towns are
submerged, no place is safer than the other.
submerged, no place is safer than the other.
“It is a humanitarian challenge here, we need the best help we can
get, it is good that the federal government has declared Anambra flood a
disaster, we want to see massive deployment of relief materials here.
get, it is good that the federal government has declared Anambra flood a
disaster, we want to see massive deployment of relief materials here.
“We need effective medical assistance because of the looming
epidemic; we need food, disinfectants, toiletries and other emergency items.
epidemic; we need food, disinfectants, toiletries and other emergency items.
“What we are distributing is what we got from SEMA, we want NEMA
to react to their declaration by massively deploying relief materials here,” he
pleaded.
to react to their declaration by massively deploying relief materials here,” he
pleaded.
He thanked Obiano and the people of Ogbaru who had helped to draw
attention to the disaster and also rendered assistance. (NAN)
attention to the disaster and also rendered assistance. (NAN)
