INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR MIGRATION INTERVENES IN ANAMBRA STATE FLOOD DISASTER. (PHOTO).#PRESS RELEASE

*International Organisation for Migration Intervenes in Anambra State Flood Disaster* 

By Chinyere Ogbuagu

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) paid a courtesy visit to Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu at his office, Jerome Udorji Secretary Complex, Awka on August 29, with the aim of sensitizing the populace on impending flood disaster.

The Focal Person, Mr. Hezekiah Samuel informed the Commissioner that the organisation partners with other establishments such as UNICEF, UNDP, RED CROSS, WHO, WASH to sensitize and create awareness on flood disaster and other crisis management.

He further elaborated the need to use radio, television, billboards, fliers, town criers, churches, and markets places to reach out to the populace, especially those in the flood disaster prone areas.

The Focal Person also said that they have been able to assist the victims in some communities with cash assistance, provision of make shift shelters, stakeholder capacity building, provision of sanitation materials in IDPs Camp, distribution of Agricultural Kits, and animal restocking.

Responding, the Commissioner for Information, Sir Nwosu, expressed appreciation on the intervention made so far by the organisation, saying that the state government has done so much in mitigating this ugly situation through provision of IDPs Camp, foodstuffs, healthcare delivery, etc

He reiterated that the Ministry of Information has gone further to create and disseminate jingles on the flood disaster, suggesting the use of town criers as an effective means of sensitization and awareness creation in dissemination and management of the forecast flood disaster.  

He also said that the state government has already put in place a committee headed by the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim that are already working to protect lives and meagre properties of the affected areas.

The Commissioner, who noted that it is becoming an annual occurrence, appealed for more funding from other international partners to enable the state government to engage more media outlets in sensitization and creation of awareness to the populace.

He further assured the organisation of the state government’s readiness to assist in the sensitization and creation of awareness through the use of state media outlets. (MOI)