Edo Flood: 2 Deaths Recorded as Displaced Persons Sleep on Bare Floor in Camps

 

Reports say that the situation in the eight camps located in the Etsako Central and Etsako East local government areas of Edo was calm, the victims have appealed to government and public-spirited individuals for assistance.

The Edo Commissioner for Health, Dr Cordilia Awieze, who confirmed the deaths, said that an outbreak of chickenpox had been reported in the camps.

Awieza said that efforts were been made by the state government to ensure that the displaced persons lived well in the camps.

She said that from the N100 million released by the state government to provide relief materials for the victim, drugs had also been bought and distributed to the camps.

Reports say that four days after the government ordered the release of N100 million for the purchase of relief materials, only drugs were purchased and supplied to the camps.

The victims complained that they fed themselves from the little items and money they brought from their homes until the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) supplied them with foodstuffs two days ago.

``With the little assistance from the Etsako Central Local Government Council, we have been feeding ourselves since we arrived in the camp.

``This is until two days ago when we got bags of rice, beans, garri, gallons of groundnut oil, palm oil, beverages among others from NEMA.

``We are yet to see anything from the state government apart from the drugs and ambulances that moved around.

``Aside from some of us who came with mattresses and mats, majority of us still sleep on bare floor since we arrived the camp last week Tuesday,” says Amos Adodo

A victim, Mr Yakubu Illia, appealed to government to supply them with consumables, sleeping mats, mattresses and other items that would make them comfortable in the camps.

Reports say that the council where the camps are located had provided conveniences for the victims.

The Etsako East Council chairman, Mr Peter Iyan, told reporters that there was little the council could do to assist the displaced persons.

``We have done and still doing the little we can to make the displaced live a normal life in the camps,” he said.

It will be recalled that 12 communities in Etsako East and Etsako Central local government areas of Edo were submerged by floods after the River Niger overflowed its banks last week.

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole, who visited the camps on Sunday had ordered the release of N100 million to provide relief materials for the displaced persons.