TOUCHED
by the effects of the raging flood in the Niger Delta, ex-agitators
have raised N52.7 million among themselves to assist displaced victims.
The amount was contributed by the 26,358 former militants, who were
granted amnesty by the Federal Government.
The
Guardian gathered that the group decided to give up N2,000 each from
their monthly stipend in order to procure relief materials and
help ameliorate the suffering of flood victims in the region.
Investigations
at the various camps in Rivers State revealed there were inadequate
mattresses, especially for children and pregnant women. There is also
lack of potable water, shortage of foodstuff and toiletries.
At
the camps, some of the inmates suffered mostly from diarrhea, malaria,
pneumonia, cough, catarrh, and complications of anaemia and
malnutrition.
Last
week, in Ula-Upata Camp of Ahoada East local government area, a baby of
about two years died of severe anaemia, as confirmed by doctors at the
Ahoada General Hospital. This is due mostly to the over-crowded,
poor living and sanitary conditions in the camp, as many children sleep
on the bare floor or on thin sheets, which do not protect them from the
cold tiled floor of the Model Primary School, recently built by the
state.
Apparently
concerned by the plight of victims, the ex-militants used the money
they raised to procure items ranging from bags of rice, beans, garri,
palm oil, tin tomatoes, toiletries, cartons of indomie noodles,
mattresses, and treated mosquito nets, among others.
Special
Adviser to the President on Amnesty, Kingsley Kuku, while handing over
the relief materials loaded in two trucks to the Rivers State Ministry
of Special Duties, described the donation by the ex-agitators as
exceptional and a great sacrifice, noting that some wealthy Nigerians
had not considered it necessary to extend their care and love to the
displaced; rather it was people who were written off that deemed it fit
to lead the way in demonstrating genuine concern to the victims.
Represented
by the Head, Reintegration Department and Technical Assistant of the
Office of the Special Adviser, Lawrence Pepple, Kuku explained that
similar items would be delivered to Bayelsa, Edo, Delta and Cross River
states. “We are distributing the materials procured by the ex-militants
according to the ratio of the worst affected areas from the statistics
of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),” Kuku said.
While frowning at the alleged diversion
of materials in various camps across the region, the presidential
adviser noted that the relief items were procured directly by a
committee set up by the Amnesty Office to avoid mismanagement of the
funds. He urged state governments in the region to ensure
transparency in the distribution of the items donated, stressing that
the gesture was a huge sacrifice from the ex-agitators.
The
state Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Emeka Nwogu, who received
the items, expressed surprise at the gesture, saying he did not expect
to receive such volume of materials from the ex-agitators.
“I
am surprised getting these quantity of
relief materials from the ex-militants. These are people who had been
written off while some big men are out there enjoying themselves and
have not contributed one kobo to assist the displaced persons. This is a
big challenge to all of us and their action is commendable,” he said.
Also,
Rivers Professionals led by Alagbo Ross George and Mr. Sibe Robbison
have extended their love to the flood victims by donating
relief materials to some camps across the state.
Worried
by the continuous health hazards faced by the victims, the University
of Port Harcourt Medical Students Association (PUMSA) in conjunction
with its specialist doctors from its alumni, has embarked on medical
outreaches
to the internally displaced persons.
The
group, last week, donated drugs, including anti-malaria tablets for
adults and children, haematinics, anti-hypertensives, antibiotics, worm
expellants, antibacterial and antifungal creams, painkillers,
antibacterial soaps, toothpastes, toothbrushes, toilet rolls and
sanitary pads.
According
to the president of the group, David Briggs-Otto, the gesture was aimed
at preventing the victims from contacting diseases, considering the
unhygienic conditions in which they are forced to live in.
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