By Chukwuka Ugokwe :
The Nigerian Red Cross Society has called on Anambra State Government to construct permanent Holding Centres in flood prone local government areas to shelter inhabitants affected by the natural disaster.
Speaking with newsmen in Awka on the early warning campaigns, the Executive Secretary of the NRCS, Anambra State, Engr Kingsley Okoye,reasoned that government could save cost by constructing permanent sites for displaced persons.
According to him, the idea of sheltering flood victims in churches and schools has proved unsustainable as such facilities tend to be abused and overstretched by the affected people.
He affirmed that well constructed permanent sites with necessary furnishing and facilities would provide lasting solution to emergencies arising from natural and human induced threats to lives and properties in the state.
While acknowledging that it had taken early warning disaster prevention and reduction campaign to eight flood prone local government areas,he noted that 2100 households had been supported through ECOWAS Aid and USAID funded services.
He further explained that the campaign was crucial to enlighten inhabitants with the needed knowledge on early warning and disaster prevention.
Engr Okoye said the society was established to serve as the primary response body for all disaster related issues by working in synergy with all emergency stakeholders.
He,then,appealed to inhabitants to heed to this year’s flood warnings issued by relevant bodies and agencies.
Chukwuka Ugokwe is of the State Ministry of Information