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Borno South senator, Ali Ndume has urged the Federal Government to establish feeding centres for victims of the flood disaster in Borno State.
Lamenting the plight of the victims on Monday in Maiduguri, the former Senate Leader called on the Federal Government to consider the flood disaster a national issue and create emergency feeding and medical centres.
The senator who commended Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum for creating over 25 camps for the victims, said the Ramat Square in Maiduguri would be a good place for such, adding that emergency feeding is standard practice worldwide in times of emergencies such as flooding.
He argued that establishing feeding centres would be a proactive step to avert further humanitarian crises in the state, given that the flood victims are daily heading to Internally Displaced Persons camps, even as IDPs’ foods has been insufficient.
“Government could establish feeding centres by contracting volunteers,” he added.
According to him, it will be difficult for anyone to comprehend the magnitude of destruction caused by the floods until one goes round the state capital, stressing that the state government alone cannot cope with the challenge.
Ndume solicited for the support of wealthy Nigerians, NGOs and good-spirited citizens to support the Borno State government in addressing the destruction caused by the floods. He noted that leaders and other stakeholders from Southern Borno have initiated moves to raise funds for the victims.
The Borno South lawmaker further urged the Federal Government to open makeshift medical centres that will cater to the health needs of victims in the interim.
He noted that such an urgent intervention will help affected residents who are currently camped in IDP centres in Maiduguri.
He said: “The Alau Dam collapse is not just a Borno issue, but a national disaster. I have never seen this kind of overwhelming disaster. I think it will be a herculean task in a couple of days and even weeks for this situation to return to normal. Most houses would not survive because they had been submerged, and the foundations had weakened.
“I am calling on all corporate Nigerians to rise up and support because the government cannot do it alone. We really need to help make sure that people do not continue to suffer. Some of them have been in their houses for the last six days,” he added.
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