By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
Worried by the continuous ravaging flood that has submerged communities and towns in 19 out of the 25 local government areas of the state, speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff F. O Oborevwori and his running mate in the 2023 governorship elections, Hon. Monday Onyeme, on Wednesday, October 19, continued the distribution of food items and relief materials to internally displaced persons in two IDP’s camp set up by the Delta State Oil Producing Area and Development Commission DESOPADEC.
Sheriff Oborevwori who was represented by the Okpe local government chairman, Hon. Isaiah Onoriode Esiovwa, donated bags of rice, beans, tubers of yams, cartoons of indomie noodles, salts, water, cooking oils and other relief materials to IDP’s at Mariere Primary School, Evwreni and St. Vincent College, Okwagbe in Ughelli North and South local government areas.
He said, the speaker and his running mate are most concerned about their plight, and moved by this, they have come to support them with the little they have.
“The team Sheriff/Onyeme is aware of the devastating effects of the flood, and by the grace of God, we will all overcome it. But government cannot fold its hands and allow the people to suffer”.
Receiving the items, Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Barr. Samuel Mariere an indigene Evwreni community, on behalf of the victims expressed gratitude to the Team Sheriff/Onyeme and the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for their prompt response and for sending relief materials to them at their time of needs.
He said, though the relief materials has brought succour to the victims, but still expressed fear of food crisis in the next few months as farmlands and produce has been submerged by the ravaging flood.
He said; ” The worst challenge ahead of us is the challenge of food crisis as all the crops are now being harvested prematurely”.
Hon. Mariere further disclosed that other IDP’S who could not make it to Evwreni which is a bit up land, are still somewhere at Uwheru and assured that the food items will be duly distributed across to them.
Camp coordinator at the Mariere Primary School and representative of DESOPADEC, Mr. Erhijefe Felix, disclosed that 575 internally displaced persons from both Uwheru and Evwreni have been registered, but said, more victims are still trooping in as a result of the rising flood.
At Okwagbe community, the scene was gory as the entire community is ravaged by the flood and hundreds of internally displaced persons camped at the St. Vincent College, Okwagbe.
Presenting the items, Hon. Isaiah Onoriode Esiovwa, commiserated with the victims, stating that Rt. Hon. Oborevwori understood their pains hence he is doing the little within his reach to mitigate the effects. He also with them and promised government continued support to mitigating the effects of the flood.
Receiving the items, Camp coordinator and chaian of Okwagbe inland community, Comrade Julius Ovwigho thanked the Team Sheriff Onyeme for their response and concern and promised to ensure the food go round to the victims.
Meanwhile, some of the victims who spoke to newsmen lamented the shortages of mattresses, mosquito nets and lights. They said since the past four days, they have lay on bare floor with their children as the flood did not allow them to pick any item before relocating to the camp. At the Evwreni, the victims also complained of sharp practices on the parts of those distributing the food, stating that various individuals and agencies are bringing enough food, but said the quantity of food served them and their children is just not enough, alleging that some of the food items are being stolen.