Nsugbe flood victims now live in bushes

Over two thousand persons displaced by flood in Nsugbe community of Anambra now live in bushes.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who went to the area, reports that the victims made shelters for themselves using nylons bags, broken glasses, and woods picked from bushes.

An indigene of the community, Mr Chidi Obiudu, told NAN that the community was not recorded as an area affected by the flood.

He said that government and public presence are yet to be seen in the community because nobody knew Nsugbe was affected by the flood.

He therefore appealed to the governments and public-spirited citizens to assist the victims.

Obiudu said they now live in bushes within the community as their own Camp and appealed for government assistance.

Obiudu said that the victims are also in need of medical attention, foodstuff, clothing, and security like other victims recorded by government.

He said that about 900 children based in the shelters are out of school and needed to be engaged in educational activities.

Obiudu said that he was shocked at the level of devastation caused by the flood in the community, yet they were unnoticed by governmen, because government was not aware that the flood devastated Nsugbe community as well.

“Now that it is known that Nsugbe community is affected by the flood, we ask that the same attention given to Aguleri-Otu, Enugwu-Otu, Aguleri and Mkpunando communities in Anambra East be extended

 to Nsugbe flood victims,” Obiudu said.

NAN reports that some of the affected victims, Nnamdi Okoye, Onyeaka Okuo, Udegbune Udekwe and Sunday Chinwuba told NAN that they were exposed to all kinds of wild animals that may attack them.

Okoye, who spoke on behalf of other victims, said that their safety is of great importance and begged to be relocated to government-recognised camps.

He said that thousands of their property and farm lands have been destroyed by the flood and pleaded with government to include them in their relief materials.

Okoye said that they are facing a range of challenges, especially hunger and starvation.

Mrs Ngozi Obileri, a native, said because of its topography and terrain, people from Nsugbe and neighbouring communities like Anam, Umueri, Igbariam settle as farmers, especially where they have farm lands.

Another victim, Mrs Chioma Nnalue, appealed for quick attention as they are now left at the mercy of hunger since their farm produce, mainly yam and cassava, are under water. (NAN)