By Izunna Okafor, Awka
No fewer than six hundred houses have been overtaken by flood in Anambra State, following the rising water level in different flood-prone communities in parts of the State.
This is coming barely three months after the flag-off of the 2024 Flood Early Warning and Sensitization in the State, by the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubiada Umar in an event organized by the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Awka sometime in early July.
According to information obtained by this reporter, Izunna Okafor, no fewer than five local government areas have so far been submerged, while the water level is still on the rise.
This was corroborated by videos and pictures currently trending on social media, showing many submerged houses, markets, churches, schools, and other private and public facilities. According to a narrator, Nnoruka Anaekwe, in one of the videos recorded at Mmiata-Anam in Anambra West Local Government Area on October 27, the residents of the community now paddle or ride on wooden canoe to their destinations, as major parts of the community and the local government area have been flooded.
While one of the videos shows the Deputy Local Government Chairman of the Anambra West Local Government Area, Hon. Mrs Edith Ndive riding on a wooden canoe to her house; another video also captures some flood-submerged school buildings, as well as children paddling canoes, swimming and loitering around in the flood during school hours.
When contacted by this reporter, the State Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Felix Odimegwu, said the state government and relevant authorities were aware of the situation and were already providing necessary interventions.
While confirming that the water level had risen in the past weeks, he further noted that the situation is being monitored, as the Anambra State Government Flood Management Team with those from NEMA, SEMA, International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Red Cross Society, are moving round collecting data of the situation at the Internally-Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
The Commissioner also disclosed some of the interventions and relief materials so far provided to the people, with over 27 camps so far activated.
According to him, no fewer than five local government areas have so far been affected by the flood, which include the Anambra West, Anambra East, Ogbaru, Awka North, and Ayamelum local government areas. The Commissioner confirmed that the State was better prepary for the flood, noting that his Ministry and the entire Flood Management Team had been issuing early warning signals almost every two days showing the water level as it was rising.
His words, “Water level has risen in the past few weeks. We are monitoring the situation. Meanwhile a team of ANSG Flood Management Team with those from NEMA, SEMA, IOM, Red Cross, are moving round collecting data of the situation at the IDP camps.
“Because of early warning signals we have been issuing out almost every two days displaying the water levels as it changes, we were better prepared. Many of the residents have moved to higher grounds and sort shelter with their friends and relations. Others are at IDP camps.
“We activated 27camps. And the camps are ready to receive displaced persons as they come.
“Meanwhile, the state received 2400 food combo cartons from Bank of Industries. The food combo comprises indomie, vegetable oil, Semovita, flour, salt and sugar. These were distributed yesterday to the five local government under threat at the moment.
“The state has also received bags of beans, rice, indomie from Church of Jesus Latter Day Saints. These will be distributed any moment from now to the camps.
“The local government mayors are actively involved in making sure that adequate basic supplies are provided, that feeding is activated at the camps.”
When asked the estimated total number of persons so far displaced by the flood, the Commissioner said that the data are being generated, as the Missions have been moving round the area since yesterday.
On her own part, when this reporter, Izunna Okafor contacted her with inquiries regarding the education of the children in the flood-affected areas, the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh explained that the State Ministry of Education already had a working system and different academic calendar for the people in the riverine areas.
The Commissioner, who acknowledged the naturality of flood as a phenomenon, said that necessary mechanisms and strategic plans had been put in place to ensure that the school children in the riverine areas don’t lose access to education and the quality learning the Governor Chukwuma Soludo has always championed.
“We have a different and special calendar for the children in the Riverine areas, such that when we vacate for the third term, they continue with their studies. So, while we are on holidays, on long vacation, they have started with their terms.
“Then, as we are resuming now, the flood is encroaching; they will be at the IDP centers. And, as the flood recedes, they join the rest of the academy. So, that is the plan,” Commissioner Chuma-Udeh clarified.
Regarding the children in the flood-affected areas who were seen in the videos loitering around during school hours, the Commissioner said that the people doing so probably chose to do so and not to partake in or take advantage of the mechanisms the state government has put in place for their benefits. According to her, the state government organizes free extramural lessons for school children at the IDP camps. She added that there are enough teachers there at the camps facilitating these.
“Our duty is to make sure that the children have access to education and that they do not miss out on their educational scheme. And we are doing that. So, the school children you saw loitering around during school hours probably chose not to take advantage of what we are doing. And, as you know, the teachers can only teach the people they see,” she said.
More photos from the flooded areas:
