The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday launched the distribution of relief materials to persons and communities affected by windstorm and fires in four Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Abia.
The distribution took place in Umuahia, in collaboration with the Abia State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
The LGAs involved are Aba South, Umuahia North, Umuahia South, and Obingwa.
Relief supplies included bags of rice, beans, salt, cartons of spaghetti and seasoning cubes, tomato paste, vegetable oil, detergent, and mosquito nets.
In a remark, SEMA Executive Secretary Dr. Sunday Jackson congratulated beneficiaries and urged community leaders to ensure the items reach the actual victims through proper assessment and documentation.
“These items cannot replace what was lost, but they are meant to cushion the impact,” he said.
Jackson commended NEMA Director-General Mrs. Zubaida Umar for her leadership and appreciated Gov. Alex Otti for creating a conducive environment for disaster management in the state.
NEMA Head of Operations for Imo and Abia, Mr. Nnamdi Igwe, stated that the intervention aimed to reduce victims’ suffering.
“What we do is to support and assist. While these items cannot replace lives or property, they will help ease the pressure on victims,” Igwe said.
He urged communities to report disasters to NEMA through SEMA for prompt federal assistance.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Elee Chinatu from Ohia Ocha Community in Aba South LGA expressed gratitude to both the state and federal governments for their timely aid.
