The Federal Government, on Tuesday, distributed relief materials to residents affected by flooding and communal violence in Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency in Enugu State.
The items distributed included: 600 bags each of 10kg rice, beans; 600 and maize; 50 bags of 20kg salt and 150 of 20 litres kegs of vegetable oil.
Others are: 300 cartons of tin tomatoes, 150 cartons of seasoning cubes; 800 mattresses; 800 units of mosquito nets and 800 units of blankets.
Flagging off the distribution of the items, the Director-General of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Ahmed, said the government was pained by the devastation the incidents caused in communities in the communities.
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Ahmed said that the relief materials were meant to cushion the effect of the disaster on the residents of the constituency.
The Director-General, who was represented by NEMA South-East Coordinator, Mr Major Eze, recalled that the two-pronged incidents affected the area and disrupted its economic activities.
The DG commended Dr Simon Atigwe, Member Representing Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, who promptly brought the incident to the attention of NEMA.
“These items were approved by the Federal Government through NEMA to support those that were affected by the disasters.
“We urge community leaders to engage in discussions with their neighbours if there is any form of disagreement in order to forestall violence.
“Community leaders should champion the idea of planting trees to act as wind breakers during windstorms as well as helping to checkmate flooding as well.
“These simple practices will make communities more resilient to human instigated and natural disasters,” he said.
Earlier, Atigwe lauded the Federal Government and NEMA for the relief materials, adding that the items would bring succour to disaster affected people within the constituency.
He said: “We have a big challenge of hunger and lack after the flooding and communal violence disasters in the constituency.
“I cried to the Federal Government through NEMA and they have come to our rescue through these items here today,”.
The lawmaker pledged that the items would be judiciously used to improve the livelihood of our people.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Beatrice Eze, a victim of flooding from Udenu Local Government Area, thanked the Federal Government for the timely intervention.
Eze said that the items would go a long way to assist her family to cope with the hardship the incident brought on them. (NAN)
