Traditional leaders, community members and humanitarian organisations in Borno have asked government to develop fresh resilience programmes to tackle the existing impact of the 2024 floods that caused devastation in the area.
Speaking at the review and closure of a six-month flood response programme for four local governments in the state by some humanitarian organisations in Maiduguti weekend, the traditional and community leaders, demanded for action plan to address emerging health and other concerns triggered by the September 2024 massive flooding.
Traditional head of Usmanti, one of the devastated communities in Maiduguri, Bulama Kura canvassed for a programme to improve sanitation, health facilities and drainages based on the needs of affected communities in the four local government areas.
“Government’s intervention should be according to the needs of the communities,” he advised. He also called for frequent evacuation of drainages as well as awareness campaigns on proper hygiene.
The Humanitarian Project Coordinator for the Christian Rural and Urban Development (CRUDAN), one of the aid agencies undertaking the flood response in Borno, Mr Tafuko Tabwassah, told journalists the weekend review was to assess the impact of the intervention and engage community nembers on their experiences.
He said intervention which started shortly after the September 9-13 massive floods, was funded by the Dutch Relief Alliance and implemented by the Center for Advocacy and Accountability Initiative (CATAI).
He said the interventions included multipurpose Cash transfer to affected households, distribution of food and non food items, rehabilitation of toilets, provision of toiletries and other sanitary items to prevent disease outbreaks.
We rehabilitated bore holes, provided sanitary materials.
Over 50000 still font have access to toilets.
Borno State Agency for Coordination of sustainable Development, Partnership and Humanitarian Response Co-ordinator for Local Governments, Alhaji Gambo Bulama said means of livelihood was destrupted, some destroyed majorly in four local local, governments of Maiduguri, Jere, Mafa and Konduga. He expressed concern the withdrawal of US aid to countries may compound the existing economic, health and social problems fueled by insecurity and exacerbated by the last year flooding.
Pic: Traditional leaders, community members and aid agencies officials at the 6-month flood response review/closure meeting in Maiduguri weekend
