Flood-affected communities in Edo State are calling on the government for immediate food relief and essential supplies. Discover their plea and urgent needs.
The residents of Udaba in Etsako Central, Agenebode in Etsako East, and Ifekhu in Esan South East Local Government Areas of Edo State have been severely impacted by floods and are urgently appealing to federal, state, and local governments for food supplies as they face significant challenges with feeding.
Residents who spoke to reporters in Benin City mentioned that the flood has devastated their livelihoods.
They also expressed their frustration about not having a place to store firewood for cooking, except for the few who have access to cooking gas.
Residents from the communities of Udaba and Ifekhu, including Ibrahim Aliu and Abraham, spoke to news reporters alleging that they had been neglected by the governments.
Ibrahim Aliu stated, “We are experiencing immense hardship as our means of livelihood have been destroyed and we no longer have a place to set firewood for cooking.”
Some residents with cooking gas are currently preparing meals, while others depend on them for their own.
“My three hectares of cassava and yam farm are submerged, with no indication of when the floodwaters will recede. We are experiencing significant hardship and have yet to receive any relief materials from the state government.”
Abraham from Ifekhu expressed his sorrow over the difficult conditions in the community.
“Our farms, along with our produce and livestock, have been washed away by the flood, leaving us without food. The rice and peppers we were about to harvest are now submerged.”
“The state government has left us to fend for ourselves,” he said. “People are navigating the community using canoes.”
He mentioned that the majority of residents who have gone to the camp do not have any relief materials with them.
Additionally, Ojaide S. Ojaide, the councillor for Ward 10 in Anegbete within Etsako Central Local Government Area, mentioned that numerous communities have been flooded with no relief available yet.
“The entire community is submerged, and their sources of livelihood have been destroyed by the flood,” he lamented.
He stated that the communities devastated by floods require support not only from governments but also from caring individuals.
The impacted communities are Udaba, Ekperi, Osomhegbe, Ogoimeri, Iyowa, Ofuku, and Anegbete in Etsako Central; Agenebode in Etsako East; and Ifekhu, Ubiaja, Ilushi among others in the Esan South East Local Government Area.
The communities located along the banks of the River Niger have been flooded because of the river’s overflow.
Peoplesmind
