From DOM EKPUNOBI, Onitsha
To say the least, the devastation is so much. Most residents of various communities in Ogbaru, Anambra East and West Local Government Areas of Anambra State have remained homeless and in anguish. Those who still manage to stay in their houses keep awake all nights, waiting for the next havoc the flood will wreak.
Whether they are homes or with homes, sorrow, agony and pain are their lot. The situation is so bad that there is hardly any difference between the villages’ main rivers and flooded areas. The communities are submerged and the flood daily claims more land. As the flood surges daily, it goes on its trail with devastation to houses, farmland, and roads.
In fact, educational and economic activities of the communities have been grounded. In the communities making up the three local government areas, hunger and starvation have set in, as farmlands have either been washed away or taken over by flood. And with the road covered by flood, food items cannot be brought into the villages.
Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, had visited the Ogbaru Local Government Area, which has 15 autonomous communities as well as Okpoko. What he saw overwhelmed him. The communities are figuratively under water. Of all the communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Okpoko is the only place where residents still sleep with a measure of comfort and confidence.
The flood is yet to wreak devastating havoc. In Odekpe, Atani, Ogwu-Ikpele, Ochuche, Osamala, Akili-Ozizor, Akili- Ogidi Obeagwe and Ogwu-Aniocha, the story is that of agony and sorrow. In these communities, the story is no longer that flood has submerged houses. Now, the news is that the houses so submerged are caving in. When Saturday Sun visited Ogbaru Local Government Area, Hon. Victor Ogene, a member of House of Representatives representing Ogabaru Federal Constituency, was involved in the rescue mission.
He lamented the devastation of the flood. He revealed that he had contacted the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to come to the aid of the flood victims and the communities. Also, a former member of House of Representatives from the area, Hon. Okwudili Uzoka, expressed dismay over havoc wreaked by the flood. He advised the people whose houses were overtaken by the flood, not to rush back, even when the flood recedes, pointing out such affected buildings stand the risk of collapsing without proper repairs and reinforcement.
The situation in Anambra East and West Local Government areas is even worse. In communities in these council areas, there’s hardly any dry land, as flood has overrun the place. The worst hit in Anambra West is Mmiata Anam, where the flood level is above bungalows. In the community, canoe has become the only sources of moving around. Also, seriously affected are Umunze Anam, Umuoba Asegbu and Iyiora.
The former transition committee Chairman of Anambra West Local Government, Dr. Tony Obierike, told Saturday Sun that this year’s flood disaster was the worst ever witnessed. He said that apart from being chased out of their houses by the flood, affected people stand the high risk of epidemic. According to him, Anambra River was the only drinking water to most of the people.
Now that everywhere is flooded, the river may have been contaminated. He appealed to the state and federal governments to save the community from extinction. He also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to hasten action in providing food and drinking water to save the people from starvation and epidemic. President General of Ogonikpele Community, Mr. Frank Akaka, who commended Hon. Ogene for rushing back to the constituency on hearing about the flooding, said the people have lost everything they ever owned.
President General of Mmiata Anam, Chief Emmanuel Agbata, expressed shock at the devastation caused by the flood and appealed for assistance from all and sundry. Also commenting on the flood disaster, the member representing the Anambra East, Hon. Obinna Emeneka, described the flood hazard as unprecedented. He said that all communities in the constituency were affected. According to him, the flood was beyond the Anambra State government to handle, while calling on the Federal Government to declare the area a disaster area.
Nke bu eziokwu. http://www.radiobiafralondon.com
Himhimhimhim,God..oooo!,what is this,
God help my people of Anambriarians,Amen
NEMA should go and read the 4 phases of disaster management and adopt pragmatic steps in preventing & managing damages caused by unavoidable ecological disasters. You can even google it & read. Government & government agencies should stop potraying Nigeria as a country incapable of taking care of her own people. Climatic change is the biggest governing challenge we face today and the effects thereof should not be toyed with.
Sign of end time.Read ur bible very well.The question is whether we are ready.Have u accepted Jesus as ur lord and saviour.No time my dear.Jehova is coming soon.The rapture is on its way. Signs are everywhere.
It is Flood.
God pls help my Anambra brethren.
the story of NOAH came in to my immagination.GENESIS CHAP.6,7& 8.LET US READ AND MEDITATE ON IT.
Federal Government refused to attained to River Niger,now River Niger wants to attained to the Federal Government, but it a piety to the people affected, how i wish the flood will extend to Aso rock. Ebele my bros am not wishing you bad but you should wake up and do something. Stop looking at faces before flood will meet you at Aso.
God pls save ur people! Seraphs in particular.
Mayor,
my regard to you. comments are wisdom displayed. I agreed with u, they need more study on that.
Nigeria has come along way where quality Leadership must be in displayed.
People fell victim of the flood because of the inability of Government to heed to NATIONAL METROLOGICAL INSTITUTE who about 5 months earlier told the conutry of the inpending danger.Government was not quick to respond and now they are calling for help.what a Government.
How can survive this terrible disaster, I have never seen this in Nigria before, this flooding has clearly shown that nigeria cannot even manage or mobilise support for those in distress. God help them
We are in Gods hand
The only way out is for the victims of the flood to relocate immediately and government should look for a solution before it gets worst open roots and channel the water
Oh my God! My dad haus is about to fall, sobs
It affected my parents in Ogbaru Anambra state.
O God come to our aid in Anambra, O Lord make haste to help us
The Government should take urgent steps to rehabilitate the people of these flooded communities, they should be provided with improved basic ammenities and good infrastructural facilities such as good roads bridges and drainages, schools, electricity, hospitals etc. These people need more than relief materials and sympathetic visits. Remember they produce large percentage of the food that feeds the state and create economic exchange.
Govt should do all that’s necesary, to console these communities that are involved in this flood issues especilly people from Anambra west LGA of Anambra state. Pls a point of correction this picture is not Ogbaru, it’s Umueze Anam in Anambra west LGA. Above all, GOD almighty will come to the aids of all the community that are effected by this flood. Amen
Pls am calling on federal govt,state govt and as well National emargency management agency (NEMA) to pay more focus on Anambra west,there is no empty land in entire Anambra west flood has overrun evrywhere,is only anambra west that flood level above bungalows, this is most affected flood area instead of ogbaru and Anambra east. This picture is not ogbaru or anambra east, is anambra west.
So so disheartening dat dis is happening to us in ogbaru expecially with d kind of infrastructural development we have witnessed in ogbaru under peter obi; the roads, power infrastructure, school buildings, hospitals etc have all been submerged. God help us.
I wnt to use dis medium to beg d federal govt to really assist d ppl affected by dis flood expecially d agrarian communities. Dia problem is multifaceted, for example a bunch of cassava stems is now sold for a #1,400 which was never sold or bought previously cos ppl got dem frm dia various farms. Dis is just one of d many challenges they r going to face this yr and many more to come.