Joyce Onwuka
The Kogi Government has called on the Federal Government and international donor Agencies to come to the aid of the State as flood sacked over 200 communities.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, made the call at Kotonkarfe during an inspection visit to communities affected within Kogi Local Government on Monday.
Fanwo said the distress call became imperative considering the fact that a major “humanitarian crisis is brewing in the state.
“Close to two million people are currently homeless in the 200 communities affected by flood in Kogi.
“As a government, we feel National Emergency Management Agency cannot afford to wait any longer since the state is already “overwhelmed.
“We are in a dire emergency situation 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 which is almost 50 per cent 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 destroyed completely.
“Seeing the aged and little children in this kind of distress is a horrible sight. We did not lose any life 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.”
According to the commissioner, the state government had earlier set up a Flood Disaster Response Team under the leadership of the state Deputy Governor.
Fanwo, however, assured the victims of government’s support in the face of the natural disaster.
Some of the affected local government areas are Kogi, Lokoja, Adavi, Ofu, Ajaokuta, Idah and Ibaji.