The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed life jackets and other relief materials to families affected by the Gorau boat mishap in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NEMA Sokoto Operations Office, Mr Dahiru Kure, made this known to reporters on Sunday in Sokoto.
Kure said the agency conducted the direct distribution of humanitarian relief assistance to families affected by the recent boat mishap in Gorau village.
He said the intervention was part of the Federal Government’s response to the incident, adding that life jackets were distributed to the people of Gorau to enhance safety for boat operators and passengers crossing the river.
According to him, the Head of NEMA Sokoto Operations Office, Mr Tukur Abubakar, represented the Director General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, at the distribution ceremony.
He explained that the intervention was the Federal Government’s way of identifying with the affected families and cushioning the impact of the unfortunate incident on them.
He further said many of the affected persons, mostly youths, were involved in the mishap while crossing the river to their farms.
He stressed that the intervention demonstrates the Federal Government’s concern for their plight and its commitment to supporting communities affected by disasters.
Kure added that the DG emphasised the importance of ensuring that boat operators and passengers adhere to safety measures, particularly the use of life jackets, to prevent loss of lives during river crossings.
He said the Gorau village head, Alhaji Aliyu Magaji, who was himself a survivor of the boat mishap, expressed appreciation on behalf of the affected persons and the entire Gorau community to the Federal Government for the support.
Kure highlighted that the relief items distributed comprised rice, beans, spaghetti, salt and tomato paste, while the non-food items comprised clothes for adults and children, detergents, sleeping materials, mosquito nets and others.
The PRO explained that the village head subsequently called on the Sarkin Ruwa, the leader of the boat operators, to monitor the proper and consistent use of life jackets by boat operators and passengers.
It was reported that no fewer than 65 persons drowned when the boat carrying 85 passengers on their way to a rice farm capsized on 20 August.
