By John Ugo, Awka
Catholic Clerics based in Canada and the United States of America (USA) have doled out the sum of N16 million as palliatives to victims of flood devastation in four Communities in Ekwusigo and Ihiala local governemnt area of the state.
This is as plans are on for the state Governor Chukwuma Soludo to visit Umuzu community and to distribute palliatives to the affected people.
The Clerics who include three Rev Fathers and two Rev Sisters in diaspora had raised funds to assist the flood victims following the reports they got about the state of those communities.
Bishop of Nnewi Catholic Diocese Rt Rev Jonas Benson while presenting the sum of N4 million to the Umuzu community in Ogbaru local government area, said that the sum was routed through him to the affected communities.
Speaking shortly after celebrating the Holy Mass at Umuzu community the cleric noted that other communities include Ogwuanaocha and two other communities in Ihiala and Ekwusigo local government areas.
“What we have come to do now is to assist our brothers and sisters who were sacked by the flood and we are all aware of what they passed through and in the spirit of brotherhood we are here to make this donation.
“Three Rev Father’s and two Rev Sisters in Canada and the United States of America raised this money to help our people and it was sent through me and we urge other public spirited individuals to contribute towards rehabilitating our brothers and sisters”
“We have adopted Umuzu community and Ogwuanaocha community as part of Nnewi Catholic Diocese and we also have other communities in Ihiala and Ekwusigo council areas.
“Everyone here goes home with the sum of N10,000.00 each and this is irrespective of which Christian denomination that you belong because we are all one and not a Catholic affair” he said.
Recall that Umuzu community was not included in the list of communities that were to receive palliatives from National Emergency Management Agency NEMA and State Emergency Management Agency SEMA as well as donations made by UNICEF .
It was also in Umuzu community that two hundred families were found to be missing during the perennial flooding this year but we’re later found towards the end of the flood.
Chairman Umuzu Flood Management Committee Prince Chris Okwuosa told newsmen that “this is the first set of palliatives that this community is taking delivery of from the beginning of the flooding to the end and we commend His Lord Bishop for coming to see us”
He thanked the Rev Father’s and Sisters that took time to raise the money saying they displayed real Christianity in practice.