By John Ugo, Awka
Former member of the House of Representatives and 2023 candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for House of Reps in Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, has sent a save our souls (SOS) to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to come to the rescue of the people of Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra state, over the recent flood disaster in the area.
The flood disaster was as a result of overflow of the River Niger and continuous heavy downpour in the riverine local government area..
Several communities also have been submerged by flooding and residents displaced in the process.
According to Ogene, hundreds of houses, farms and other businesses in Ogbaru, have been swallowed submerged by the horrendous flood, leaving many people in agony, sorrow, tears and hopelessness.
Ogene named some of the affected communities as Ogwu Ikpele, Akili Ogidi, Obeagwe, Ossomala, Umunankwo, Ogbakuba, Ochuche, Akili Ozizor, Atani, Ohita and Odekpe. Other areas devastated by the ravaging flood include Amiyi, Iyiowa, Ogbeukwu, Okoti and parts of Okpoko.
The ex-lawmaker who visited the area said, “It is pathetic. It is a terrible sight in Ogbaru as a result of the flood disaster.
The human and environmental conditions here are absolutely pathetic and requires urgent action from government in order to alleviate the sufferings of the despondent victims, most of whom have lost all their belongings to the flood disaster.
“These flood victims that cut across several communities, urgently need relief materials and other assistance from government and it’s agencies, such as NEMA and SEMA.” He said
He called on the agencies to rise up to their responsibility and bring urgent succour to the people of Ogbaru, who are currently besieged by flooding, so as to avert the outbreak of health challenges associated with such incident.
“Most of them urgently need food, clothing materials, beddings, medical supplies and shelter.
“I also call on the Anambra State Government, to liaise with the Transition Committee Chairman, Hon. Paschal Aniegbuna and President Generals of Ogbaru communities, to coordinate relief efforts to ensure that they are prudently and transparently distributed in the best interest of the victims.
“Please, NEMA, SEMA and state government, should consider this as a serious and desperate SOS message and treat it with the urgency, humaneness and responsibility that it requires,” he added
