Bayelsa flood victims decry govt neglect, recount loses

Persons displaced by the perennial flooding in Bayelsa State have complained about the inability of the state government to provide Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps for the Flood Victims in the state or provide relief materials to assuage the suffering of the affected persons. Some of the displaced persons who spoke with newsmen during an […]

Persons displaced by the perennial flooding in Bayelsa State have complained about the inability of the state government to provide Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps for the Flood Victims in the state or provide relief materials to assuage the suffering of the affected persons.

Some of the displaced persons who spoke with newsmen during an assessment tour to some flooded communities in the state said most of the displaced persons who could not afford the cost of paying for hotel bills or rent new apartments are now taking shelter by the roadside.

• Sokoto needs N20bn to fix damages caused by flood – Tambuwal
• Flood: Farmers, others brainstorm on how to forestall future losses

The state government had in previous years provided accommodations to house Flood Victims until the water recedes, but this year, there is no such provision anywhere in the state.

Mrs Eneye Unity, a 57-year-old displaced person in Akenfa 1 community in Yenagoa Local Government said she and her 78-year-old husband and six children are now staying in a small space provided by a public-spirited person after they were sacked from their homes over one month ago due to flood.

She said: “It’s about one month and a week since water took over our home, our property destroyed, and we were helpless until somebody, helped us with accommodation where my six children are staying now, while my aged husband is staying at another good Samaritan’s house.

“So we survived this disaster by the grace of God, no help from the government at the moment, but we still believe in God that government will do something about our plights.” He said.

Another IDP in Igbogene community, Mr. Henry Commissioner, said the flood has taken over his house and business place, and he sleeps by the small tent raised at the pavement of the road.

He said: “As I’m talking to you, I don’t have any alternative place to sleep except this tent that see, we fold it during day time, we are happy that water has receded, it’s not flowing as it was about two weeks ago, which means that after now, it will begin to recede.

“Our sources of livelihoods have been taken away by floodwaters and the suffering is too much this year because the government has not done anything to help us like previous years that they will provide IDPs camps, gives medical and relief materials, but we have not seen anything this year.

“The type of cool and mosquito bites we experience for sleeping outside is enough for somebody to fall sick, but we don’t get help from anywhere, that is why we are pleading with the government to help us alleviate this suffering.” He said.

Government Exploring Scientific Approaches

Reacting to the people’s complaints, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mr. Ayibaina Duba said the state government is looking at scientific approaches to proffer lasting solutions to the perennial flooding in the state.

He said the State Executive Council has raised a committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Konbowei Benson to assess the impacts of the flood on the people and advise the government on the next action.