Anambra government wants proactive measures to mitigate impact on victims impending flood

Anambra State Government has assured members of flood response committee of its commitment to ensure success in the management of impending flood disaster.

Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Anambra Deputy Governor gave the charge on Saturday in Awka during a meeting with flood response committee on the way forward.

Ibezim said the meeting was of great importance to the state because they need to plan well-to mitigate the negative effects of flood among residents living in flood prone areas.

He appealed to the committee members to have a well thought out plan for possible proactive measures in year 2023 flood management in the state.

Ibezim reminded the committee members that they have been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that flood victims were timely evacuated, protected and provided for in their various camps.

He said as a member of the presidential steering committee on flood, the state committee was charged to be proactive, examine the level of preparedness, timely and report any challenges ahead.

Ibezim said the committee was mandated to provide quality food of home standards with quality drugs at the centres where the flood victims will be camped. .

He advised the committee to speed up in the activation of the local government management committee of the sub committee of the group.

Ibezim said that earlier inauguration of the sub committee was important as it would help to expedite actions at the local level and put structures down before any disaster occurs.

Responding, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) assures on the preparedness of the committee stating that the standard work plan is being followed.

Mr Felix Odimegwu, Anambra Environment Commissioner said the team needed to review the 2022 flood response and improve towards the 2023 flooding.

Odimegwu assured that the team would put in place a convenient environment, adequate food supplies, quality health care services, recreational activities and more at the holding centres.

The Transition Committee (TC) Chairman of Anambra East Local Government, Mr Felix Ikechi, on behalf of other affected TC chairmen, appreciated the proactive measures the state government has in plan towards 2023 impending flood.

Ikechi assured that the chairmen in the flood prone areas have promised to inform and educate the people on the need to harvest their crops on time.

He said that farmers in the areas would be asked to preserve their crops properly and move their household to the holding centres ahead of time just as provided by the state government.

Dr Forster Ihejiofor, Commissioner for Agriculture also present during the meeting said that efforts would be made to ensure that farmers comply with directs to avoid destruction of their crops by food.

Mrs Patricia gwebuike, Commissioner for Transport said the meeting was very useful as more concrete plans on smooth transportation arrangements for the affected people need be done timely.

Transition committee chairmen of flood prone local government areas were in attendance namely Ayamelum, Awka North,Ekwusigo, Ogbaru, Anambra West,