NEMA, Taraba Scale Up Relief For Flood, Clash Victims Across 23 Communities

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TSEMA), has scaled up humanitarian interventions with relief materials to victims of communal clashes, floods and windstorms across 23 communities in five local government areas of the state.

The intervention reached affected communities and targeted beneficiaries in Kurmi, Takum, Zing, Jalingo and Bali local government areas.

At least, about 300 households displaced by communal clashes in Chanchangi, Yamma, Kufai Amadu, Mamie Market, Rubar and Sufa communities in Takum local government were among the beneficiaries of the relief materials.

Items distributed included rice, maize, spaghetti, vegetable oil, tomato paste, iodised salt, seasoning cubes, mats, wax prints and guinea brocade fabrics.

The joint intervention was later extended to Zing local government, where victims of rainstorm and windstorm disasters in Zing A, Zing B, Sabon Peggi, Monkin A, Monkin B, Bitako, Bubong and Yakoko communities received relief materials.

The agencies also responded to flood disasters in Jalingo local government, where victims in Jolly Nyame Garden City, Green Beach, Mayo Dassa, behind Excellent Academy, as well as Mayogwoi, Nasarawo Culvert and Nunkai communities received relief assistance.

While in Kurmi local government, the agency distributed relief in Bissaulla community, where victims of a recent communal clash received food and non-food items from a joint NEMA-TSEMA delegation led by Malut Adam Hussain, who represented the Director-General of NEMA, Hajiya Zubaida Umar.

Speaking during the exercise, Malut Adam Hussain conveyed the sympathy of the Federal Government to the affected families and reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to providing emergency assistance to victims of disasters and conflicts.

The Head of NEMA, Yola Operations Office, Mr. Ladan Ayuba, assured residents of the state of sustained support and called on communities to embrace disaster preparedness measures to reduce future flood risks.

The Executive Secretary of TSEMA, Dr. Echuseh Audu, represented by the agency’s Director of Administration, Mr. Sani Maisukwati, commended NEMA for its swift response and lauded Governor Agbu Kefas for supporting efforts to ensure prompt delivery of relief to affected communities.

She said, the state government remained committed to providing timely humanitarian support to disaster victims and urged beneficiaries to use the items judiciously.

She said, the exercise supervised by personnel of both agencies, security operatives and community leaders to ensure transparency and accountability in the distribution process.

According to the TSEMA boss, the agency also conducted an assessment of windstorm damage in affected communities and distributed relief materials to victims in Suntai of Bali local government.

“This was during the post-flood intervention, where our assessment team inspected damaged houses and property before distributing the relief items to affected households,” she said.

The Tii of Suntai, HRH Dauda Haruna Umaru, commended the prompt intervention by TSEMA and the Taraba State Government, noting that the support would help victims recover from their losses.

The agencies said the interventions reflect the strong partnership between the Federal Government and the Taraba State Government in providing timely humanitarian assistance and strengthening disaster response across the state.

The Village Head of the area, Mr. Peter Makwa Matsayi, expressed gratitude to the Federal and Taraba State governments for the timely interventions, saying it capable of easing the hardship faced by affected residents.