…Donates relief materials worth millions
The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) Ebonyi state, has revealed that plans are underway to rebuild burnt houses of the Abakaiki-Cross River war victims.
Dr. Ken Ozioma Eze, disclosed this on Thursday February 13, during an interview with newsmen after handing over relief materials worth millions of naira to the victims.
He noted that his interest was not just to bring food items and other materials to the people, but how to make sure that the houses destroyed during the crisis are reconstructed and for the youths to be empowered.
Like I rightly told them while I was addressing the communities involved that my interest is not just bringing these food items and other things, that my interest is how to make sure that these houses are reconstructed and also how to empower the youths especially those of the community.
“These are the two areas of my interest, reconstruction of the destroyed houses and also the empowerment of the youths, and we are currently working on that. And I so much believe God that through the support of Governor David Umahi and federal donor agencies as well as other agencies beyond the shores of Nigeria; we will be able to do that by the grace of God very soon.
Dr. Eze hinted that the relief materials donated to the victims was n collaboration with Participatory Development Alternatives (PDA) and AMURT.
AMURT as gathered was in charge of rendering free medical services to the victims.
He said that in 2017 after the attack on Offia Oji, Okpuitumo Izzi community in Abakaliki local government area, which affected 11 villages, that the agency alongside its partners visited the communities and carried out a joint assessment.
“When we came here what we saw in place was so disturbing that we didnt waste time to assemble relief materials and we came here, I.e. SEMA, PDA, and AMURT and had free medical treatment and also shared food items to the people because we discovered that the children were dying of kwashiorkor.
But since that 2017, we have been getting report that things are not getting better with these people. So when I had access to these relief materials I took a decision. I spoke with my management staff and also spoke with these organizations and we agreed that we will revisit this place with these items he stated.
He also pointed out that the major sponsor of their visit was state government, while they got donation from NIMASA adding that they also partnered with PDA and Amurt.
He also charged the victims to be patient with government, while thanking God that peace has been restored to the area.
Earlier, in her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of PDA, Ebonyi State, Mrs. Victoria Ebere Eze stated that her organization provided the necessary logistics needed to ensure that the distribution exercise was a success.
She reiterated that PDA in 2017 donated lots of relief materials to the affected community with support from Actionaid Nigeria.
Some of the beneficiaries in an interview with newsmen thanked the state government for the kind gesture.
Mrs. Celine Igboke who was the first person her husband was killed during the crisis stated that life has not been easy for her and the family.
Other widows said they have been living from hand to mouth, and a life of loneliness.
Some of the items distributed include bags of rice, garri, beans wrappers; kegs of groundnut oil, spaghetti, about 20 items were distributed.
The villages affected are Igoghumini, enyadiogu, Ofutu, Obegigwe, Okwerike, Onu now-odaa, Okweturuike, Onu-Eyim, Azuoji, Odeligbo and EgwuaguNdiegu.
