The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has supported 12,000 persons affected by 2022 flood in Adamawa State with various food items.
The gesture benefited by Mayo-Ine Community in Fufore local government area of the state was in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
The National President of the Nigeria Red Cross, Prince Oluyemisi Adebayo Adeaga, explained during the official handing over of the items in Mayo-Ine that each household would receive a package containing 25kg bag of parboiled rice, 15kg bag of garri, 12kg bag of beans, and five litres each of red oil and palm oil; in addition to the sum of N91,500 in cash.
The flood relief support targets 3,500 households across the most affected states comprising Adamawa, Anambra, Kebbi, Oyo and Rivers.
“In the three states, two of the most affected local government areas were selected,” Adeaga said.
According to him, the Red Cross and other partners were offering the relief in the awareness of the destruction caused by floods that swept across Nigeria in 2022 as affected countless families and livelihoods.
He said the initiative was a tastament to the power of collaboration involving the Red Cross as the implementing partner, ECOWAS “for their generous funding”, and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation “for their steadfast partnership.”
In his remark, ECOWAS Commission’s Representative, Mr Alozie Godfrey noted that the 15 ECOWAS states were not silent since flood swept away the communities, and had thus arrived at the decision to procure the relief items for the victims.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Abel Enitian, thanked the ECOWAS for approving the relief materials for the flood victims.
The organisations lauded the Adamawa State government for carrying along with the needs of victims of what he described as one of the worst floods ever experienced in the state.
Represented by the Commissioner of Humanitarian Services, Barrister Bello Diram, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri said the state has been playing its part to assist the flood victims, and had gone from recovery and rehabilitation to development processes aimed at preventing future floods.
The Red Cross president had earlier solicited the support of the state government for its volunteers in the state.
