President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday expressed shock at the level of destructiondone by flood in some communities in Anambra State.
He told the victims that the Federal Government had initiated measures to resettle them when flood water recedes.
The President made the pledgewhen he visitedthe affected areas. He added that his administration had been following the development and was not indifferent to the plight of the people.??
During a visit to one of the camps housing the displaced persons at Father Joseph Memorial High School, Aguleri, Anambra East, the President commiserated with families, who lost their loved ones and assured them of government’s continued support.
“The Federal Government will work with the state government and other organisations to resettle the victims,” Jonathan said.
The President said the Federal Government Committee on flood disaster was set up to, among other things, explore ways to assist the flood victims to pick up their lives again. He explained that some International organisations were co-opted into the committee to attract external assistance to cushion the pains.
The President lamented the colossal loss suffered by the state and recalled the 1969 flood that preceded the completion of the Kangi Dam in 1970, adding that major embankments would be constructed on the Benue while the completion of Kasambila Dam in 2014 would help prevent a recurrence.
Governor Peter Obi, who received the President, thanked him for identifying with the state and noted that the visit had brought a lot of relief to the victims. He? said that the state had been devastated with many people displaced, noting that over 20 resettlement camps had been set up to accommodate over 6,721 victims.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has registered 53,489 Internally Displaced People (IDPS) in Delta and Anambra States.
Ina camp in Asaba, Delta State, reliefs and rehabilitation officials of NEMA confirmed that 28, 764 IDPs were registered in 11 camps of the 14 affected local government councils in the state.