…the Ijaws are suffering – IWC President

By Magdalene Agbadamashi

A concerned Ijaw body, the Ijaw Flood Control Unit (IFCU), set up to access the level of flood impact on affected communities in Delta and Bayelsa states, in a recent visit to the affected areas has made available solutions to help stem the disaster as well as ameliorate the living conditions of flood victims.

The IFCU field assessment was led by its convener, Comrade Rosemary Graham, who visited some of the flood ravaged Ijaw communities of Adagbabiri and Agoloma (Bayelsa state), and Ayakoromor, Gbekebor, Ofonibeinghan, and Patani (Delta state) on Monday, September 24.

Speaking to GbaramatuVoice during an assessment of one of the affected communities, Comrade Rosemary, who was shocked at the level of damage done by the flood, said the riverine communities are the worst hit as she called for adequate preparation and support from both the government and civil bodies.

“I’m filled with tears, they are suffering; the Ijaws are suffering. We need to prepare ahead of time. Preparation means there should be a plan B to evacuate this people to a safe place when it gets too much, because people can’t live like this.

“Ordinarily, people are not supposed to be living in this kind of state, but look at them because they are helpless; they have no choice but to stay. Look at a store (shop), look at where someone is cooking; this is a very pathetic situation. It doesn’t happen in any civilised country.

“So our governors should help; the governors of individual states affected should help. NEMA should help. Individuals should help, just as we have come under the Ijaw Flood Control Unit to see how we can help this situation.”

Some of the residents in the affected communities who objected to the temporary solution of relocating, complained of the embittered living condition which include the destruction of their personal effects; the lack of drinkable water, forcing them to make use of the flood water for domestic activities; as well as shortages of foods, drugs and other basic necessities of life.

“I don’t want to leave this place if they ask us to,” remarked one of the flood victims who goes by the name, Ebimene, from Ayakoromo. “I just want government to provide solution to the flood and also food, drugs and foam because all our foams have been rendered useless since the flood incident.”

Meanwhile, the IFCU, in its set of recommendations made available to GbaramatuVoice by its Secretary, Comrade Yangaboy Erekedoumene, stated that:

“That, the people of Ofonibeinghan (Okrika) community, Burutu, Delta state be evacuated, given a temporal camp at neighbouring Okwagbe Community, provided with relief materials, mobile toilet, drinkable water and an emergency medical team in order to take care of their immediate needs.

“That, the people of Gbekebor Community, Burutu, Delta State, be evacuated,  given a temporal camp at an extended sand filled parcel of land within the Gbekebor community, provided with relief materials, mobile toilet, drinkable water and an emergency medical team.

“That, the people of Ayakoromor Community, Burutu,  Delta State, be evacuated immediately, given a temporal camp, at a higher parcel of land opposite Ayakoromor town, provided with relief materials, mobile toilet, drinkable water and an emergency medical team.

“That, the people of Adagbabiri, Sagbama LGA, Bayelsa state, be evacuated immediately, given a temporal camp at Odi, provided with relief materials, mobile toilets, drinkable water and an emergency medical team.

“That, the people of Agoloma community, Patani LGA, Delta State, be evacuated, immediately, given a temporal camp, provided with reliefmaterials, mobile toilets, drinkable water and an emergency medical team.

“And that, the people of Patani, in Patani LGA, Delta State,  should be shifted to an higher land within the Patani town, provided with relief materials, mobile toilets, drinkable water and an emergency medical team.”

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