Still On The Flood Havoc
2 min read
There is hardly any part of Bayelsa State that is not affected by the current havoc caused by flood. It is either the resident is directly affected or their relatives have been affected and they have to provide some form of succour to such relatives.
Even the dead are affected. The other day, there was a piece of news that dead bodies were floating on the flood waters. The situation has become so terrible that the governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri has asked civil servants, except those on essential duty, to take some days off work, to be able to deal with the challenges posed by the rising flood in virtually all parts of the state.
Apart from the holiday window which the governor announced for the workers, he has been everywhere, either trying to get petroleum products into the state, considering the high cost of the products occasioned by the inability of trucks to access the state, or trying to get food items into the state for the people.
As it stands now, no vehicle can get into or out of Bayelsa State, either from the Warri flank or from the Ahoada axis. Only tippers have been able to sail through the ravaging flood on the East West Road, ferrying people to safe areas and handing them over to canoe paddlers who take the people to dry areas.
Even when the residents are able to get food stuff at cut throat prices, how and where to cook the food is also an issue. Some of the have had to cook inside boats, where they also sleep.
It is actually a humanitarian crisis in Bayelsa State as it is in other states of the south, like Delta Rivers and Imo. A few days ago, reports also came, that some communities in Cross River State have been affected.
From reports, governments of the various states are doing their best to cushion the effect of the havoc
on their people. Palliatives have been procured and are being distributed. IDP camps are reported to have been constructed and the victims moved there.
As much as we hail the various state governments for their efforts so far, we urge those who are not doing anything seriously to help the victims to do so. For example, in Cross River State, there seems to be no action on the part of the state government to assist the victims.
We are also urging NGOs, corporate organisations and well-spirited individuals to arise and assist the victims wherever they may be.
If we preach love in the church, this is the time to show practically, that we are truly a nation that cares and that we are our brothers’ keeper.
