20th August, 2023
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) distributed relief materials to 24,640 victims of 2022 floods and vulnerable persons in Yobe on Sunday.
A NEMA official, Hajiya Bintu Aliyu, flagged off the distribution in Damaturu on behalf of its Director General, Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed.
She said the materials were distributed under Special National Economic and Livelihood Emergency Intervention (SNELEI) programme of the Federal Government.
She explained that the gesture was to facilitate quick return to normalcy in the affected areas.
“This intervention is also expected to drive the sustainable socio-economic resilience of the targeted most vulnerable individuals,’’ she said.
In his remarks, Gov. Mai Mala Buni said Yobe witnessed one of its worst flood disasters in 2022.
“About 39,000 households were affected. At least 74 persons died, while 91 others were injured.
“More than 26,290 hectares of land in the state experienced extensive flooding from August to October 2022 mostly as a result of overflow of dams from Kano and other states,’’ Buni said.
The governor said the Phase one SNELEI intervention targeted more than 9,000 beneficiaries out of the 24,640 registered victims.
He commended the Federal Government for the SNELEI programme.
Also speaking, Dr Mohammed Goje Executive Secretary of Yobe State Emergency Management Authority (SEMA) commended Gov. Buni for his timely support and responses to emergency situations.
He added that SEMA in Yobe had been repositioned to meet international humanitarian and emergency working standards.