The Gombe State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, has disclosed that 2,517 houses and shops were either completely or partially destroyed by flood which ravaged 33 communities in the State.
The disclosure was made by the Deputy Director, Relief and Rehabilitation of the agency, Ibrahim Nalado, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Saturday in Gombe.
Nalado stated that the communities affected were in Dukku, Funakaye and Billiri Local Government Areas (LGAs), of the State.
He said these areas were flooded due to the heavy downpour that occurred between 12 August and 22 August.
“In Dukku LGA, 10 communities were affected. In Funakaye LGA, 20 communities were affected and in Billiri LGA, three communities were affected,” he said.
The Deputy Director also added that the flooding and windstorm affected mostly houses and few farmlands in the communities.
He, however, noted that there was no loss of life. He pointed that two children were injured in Dukku, including seven animals which were washed away.
Speaking on the impact of flooding on farmlands in the State, Nalado said Hina community in Yamaltu/Deba LGA of the State was the worst-hit.
He maintained that not less than 1000 hectares of rice, maize, sorghum and millet farmlands were submerged in the water.
The Deputy Director also added that his team has visited Hina community on Friday, to assess the level of damage.
He described the impact of the flooding as ‘huge and devastating’ in view of the vast area affected.
He regretted the loss, saying, “Farmers were getting ready to harvest their crops.
“The farmers were so worried. But because it was a natural phenomenon, they accepted it in good fate,” he said.
Nalado stated that data on the number of farmers affected by the flood were being collated at Hina.
The Deputy Director informed that his agency had assessed the level of damage to the houses and farmland and were compiling the reports. He noted that reports when complied will be forwarded to the State Government and other relevant agencies.
He, however, stated that the level of damage on farmlands at Hina would take collective efforts of both the State and the Federal Government to address.
Nalado, therefore, appealed to the North East Development Commission and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to support the State Government in this regard.
The Deputy Director also appealed to the farmers and other persons affected to be patient. He assured them that government and other government agencies would come to their aid.
source: NAN
Follow us for more news on our WhatsApp News Channels @
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaC505jB4hdZ5Yx9g82U
