Floods leave hundreds homeless in Imo

Hundreds of people have been left homeless in Abacheke Community, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, Imo State, due to flooding which submerged many homes and farmland, destroying cash crops and other sources of income in the community.

The rising flood that started a week ago got so bad on Saturday that it has spread beyond Abacheke to nearby communities who are now resorting to the use of boats to move around an area that was once dry land.

Speaking about the incident, the traditional leader of the community, HRH Eze Ikeji Bright thanked NEMA officials for their quick response in carrying out an assessment of the flood.

He said his people were mostly farmers and many had returned home after being displaced from their farms and fishing jobs.

The monarch regretted that many of his subjects were now refugees in their own community due to the horrific incident which overwhelmed many homes and the only high school in the area.

He appealed: "The government should help us, we need urgent help such as food, clothes, mosquito nets and other relief materials, this year's flood has passed unnoticed, we have lost so much including our plantations, my people are now refugees in their own community, we need government intervention as soon as possible”

Also speaking, Egbema North Development Zone Coordinator, Obinna Ariaga, revealed that residents of Abacheke community and other nearby flood-affected communities do not have land to live on. move.

Obinna hinted that his people, mostly farmers, lost their agricultural produce as a result of the flood and soon the region will be plunged into hunger and starvation. He also felt that there could be an outbreak of sickness and disease as a result of the flooding which he said polluted the area.

In his words "my people are in dire straits, most of the displaced families have no place to go, I hereby appeal to the federal government through NEMA, international organizations and other well-motivated people to come to the aid of the Abacheke community and other neighboring communities affected by this flood”

Recounting his ordeal, one of the flood-affected victims and a farmer in the community, James Elemma, lamented that the flood left his entire family homeless and destroyed their properties. »

James called for help, saying he could no longer feed his family as he could no longer go to his job as a fisherman where he got his daily bread.

Another victim who spoke to our correspondent, Adolphus Nwokocha, said he was a well-known farmer in the community and that this year's flood destroyed about one hectare of his cassava farm.

"I have worked so hard in the last planting season, not only have I lost my farmland, but the flood has also destroyed tons of processed 'garri', I call on the government of l 'Imo State and the Federal Government to come to our rescue by providing a lasting solution to the perennial floods that are ravaging the community of Abacheke and other communities in the LGA of Ohaji/Egbema'

Speaking shortly after conducting an assessment of the affected areas, Nwaeze Innocent, Team Leader and Senior Site and Rescue Officer of NEMA, Imo State revealed that the situation is very serious and that NEMA will prepare a full report of its assessment to enable the federal government to provide relief materials and other items that may help alleviate the suffering of affected communities.

According to Nwaeze "there will be instances of secondary emergencies as a result of this flooding, I advise residents of Abacheke and other flood affected communities to urgently evacuate the affected area and to also relocate their children to safer ground”

He also advised people in the community to stop the construction of new...