Richard Elesho
With more than 200 of its communities already under water and 68 camps for Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, being overwhelmed, the Kogi State Government has again called on the federal government, international donor agencies and the private sector to come to its aid.
Addressing newsmen at Kotonkarfe, Kogi Local Government, Monday, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo said a major “humanitarian crisis is brewing in the state as close to two million people are currently homeless”.
He said the “National Emergency Management Agency can not afford to wait any longer” as the State is already “overwhelmed”.
“We are in a dire emergency at the moment, and this is sad. The flood disaster here is devastating, and over 200 communities have already been submerged and close to two million people displaced.
“As we speak, nine of the 21 Local Government Areas in the state are affected, almost 50% of the number of Local Government Areas. We have opened about 68 IDP camps, but they can’t hold that massive population. Schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure have been eradicated.
“Seeing the aged and little children in this kind of distress is a horrible sight. We did not lose any lives because we activated the early warning and enlightenment plan. We are expending huge resources daily, but it is inadequate. We call on the Federal Government, International Donor Agencies, NGOs, and philanthropists to come to our aid,” he said.
Fanwo said the State Government had earlier set up a Flood Disaster Response Team under the leadership of the Deputy Governor of the State, assuring the victims of the government’s support in the face of the natural disaster.
Kogi, Lokoja, Adavi, Ofu, Ajaokuta, Idah, and Ibaji are some of the affected Local Government Areas.