In commemoration of the United Nations General Assembly’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has distributed relief materials to the victims of natural and human-induced disasters in the state.
He said the essence of the event was to promote a global awareness of disaster reduction and risk awareness on the disasters that befall people in their homes, places of work and environment, adding that people and communities that reduce their exposures to disasters and create awareness on the possible risks and disasters people could face should be celebrated.
The governor who was represented by the executive secretary of Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (ESEMA), Mrs. Nkechi Ene, stated that the state government purchased and distributed relief items to the victims of disasters in the state to bring them succour and cushion the adverse effects they had suffered as a result of the disasters.
“It is part of government’s efforts to ameliorate the sufferings the people that are affected by disaster. This gesture by Enugu State Government is a way to show that the state is concerned about the general welfare of everyone in the state,” Mrs. Ene said.
Also speaking, the South East Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Walson Brandon, thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for donating relief materials worth millions of naira to victims of disaster-affected communities in the state, stressing that such gesture was rare from any state government especially now that the nation’s economy has taken a nose-dive.
He further stated that “the event was an opportunity for us from different communities gathered to acquaint ourselves of the hazards and vulnerabilities associated with risks.”
He called on other state governments and non-governmental organizations to emulate the governor in reaching out to victims of disasters in their respective states.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Rev. Fr. Osita of All Saints Station in Udi Local Government Area of the state, said he was too thrilled by what the state government has done for them.
“I never thought it would be like this, but glory be to God for the kind of governor he gave to the people of Enugu State. Our governor has done us a lot of good things that we can remember today. If you leave me, I will talk till tomorrow because what I am experiencing now, I have not experienced before.
“On behalf of all the affected people, I thank Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who is alleviating our suffering today. I appreciate him for the good works he is doing. He has the interest of the masses at heart. All I am saying is that our governor should win his second tenure to continue this good governance in our state,” he said.
He also thanked the ESEMA officials for being transparent in distributing the relief materials.
