Rainstorm: Katsina spends N60m on relief materials

The Katsina State Government says it has spent N60 million to provide relief materials to victims of windstorm and torrential rainfall in the state.

Dr Aminu Waziri, the Executive Secretary of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), disclosed this to newsmen in Katsina on Thursday.

He said that the relief materials were distributed to provide succour to the victims of the disaster in five local government areas of the state.

Waziri listed Mashi, Katsina, Charanchi, Batagarwa and Musawa Local Government as areas worst hit by windstorm and torrential rainfall.

He added that the state had also lost six persons as a result of the disaster, pointing out that the victims were residents of Katsina Local Government Area.

Waziri said the disaster destroyed more than 2,354 houses and washed away farm produce worth millions of naira.

He said the agency had concluded arrangement to commence distribution of building materials to the victims whose houses were affected by the disaster.

Waziri, however, expressed concern over the failure of the National Emergency Relief Agency (NEMA) to assist the victims despite several letters sent to the agency.

The executive Secretary, who presented copies of letters written to NEMA by his agency, said ‘‘for the past two years, NEMA had not provided relief materials to victims of any disaster in Katsina State.”

On 3,500 refugees, who migrated from Zamfara to Dansafau Village in Katsina State due to incessant attacks by gunmen, Waziri said Katsina state government has set up a medical team to provide health care services to the victims.

Waziri further said the state government had pledged to provide land for the victims to build houses to settle permanently in Dansafau Village.

He, however, appealed to the Zamfara Government to provide food and other basic needs for the displaced people.

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to visit Katsina State on Friday, June 30, to sympathise with the victims of rainstorm and flood disaster in the state.