The North East Development Commission (NEDC) is helping people who got caught in big floods in the North-Eastern states like Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Taraba. They are sending 200,000 bags of rice to these areas.
NEDC’s boss, Mohammed Alkali, said this when he talked to people in Maiduguri city.
Besides rice, Alkali said they are also sending 150,000 boxes of macaroni and spaghetti, 250,000 gallons of vegetable oil, and also things like mats, blankets, mosquito nets, and clothes for both grown-ups and kids.
This help is because of the bad floods that have hit many parts of these states.
Alkali mentioned that both state and federal lawmakers from these regions would help give out the aid packages to make sure everyone gets a fair share.
This support came after Alkali visited the flood-affected regions. It’s part of NEDC’s plan to give quick help now, with more help to come later.
“This first help is just a start. More aid will come soon,” Alkali said. The floods in Maiduguri happened because the Alau Dam broke, making it essential for the commission to act fast.
What to know
Newslodge earlier said that the Maiduguri floods are the worst since 1994. The Alau Dam overflowed after being full for a week.
The high waters covered many homes, so the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, warned people living by the river to leave their homes.
- The flood made hundreds of families homeless, and many are sleeping outside.
- This disaster came after floods recently hit northern Nigeria, ruining farms and homes, affecting around 227,000 people. The Nigerian government is giving N3 billion in aid, and the U.S. is helping with over $6.5 million.
- Earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) gave medicines and health supplies worth N70 million to the Jigawa State Government to stop diseases in flood-hit camps.
- WHO’s Coordinator in Jigawa, Dr. Bello Inuwa, said it’s important to stop the spread of diseases in these areas.
- They gave things like malaria test kits, antibiotics, malaria treatment, and solutions to prevent dehydration.
- Jigawa’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Mohammed Kainuwa, said it’s crucial to care for the health of displaced people. They need clean water and proper sanitation to avoid illnesses like gastroenteritis.
In Jigawa state, 33 people have died, 148 communities have been hit, and 50,000 people have lost their homes. WHO has also been asked to do more in watching for disease outbreaks and making sure people get vaccines to avoid more health problems.
