The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) on Tuesday disclosed that 160 communities had been submerged by flood in the state since the rains began in June.

Alhaji Ibrahim Inga, Director General, NSEMA, disclosed this when officials from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Kaduna Field Office, visited him to assess the extent of flooding in the state.

Inga said that the state government had approved release of N28 million to NSEMA to cater for displaced flood victims in Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps.

He said that the agency had established seven IDP camps for families and persons whose communities were submerged by the flood.

According to the director-general, the IDP camps are located at Zungeru Central Primary School, Maikakaki, Muye, Ceku, Ebbo, Gbaciku and Gungu.

“The flood situation confronting us in Niger is beyond the state’s capacity, even one year of the state’s budget cannot solve the problem, and children and women are the most vulnerable,’’ he said.

Inga said that the Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Association of Medical Practitioners, Red Cross and the State Child Rights Agency were partnering the agency to give aid to victims, especially children and women.

Earlier, Mr Rabiu Musa, Communication Officer and Focal Person Emergency, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, said that the team was on assessment of the flood situation in the state.

“Our visit to Niger is to assess the situation and report back on what we have seen for further decision and action,’’ Musa said. (NAN)

– Sept. 18, 2018 @ 12:59 GMT |