Residents along the Epie creek in Yenagoa on Wednesday lamented the
impact of flooding caused by the overflow of the waters from Taylor creek,
tributaries of Orashi and Niger rivers.
Our Correspondent who visited the river side settlements quotes the
residents as saying that the water levels rose above tolerable limits on
Tuesday.
Joy Elvis, a resident at Onopa area in Yeagoa said that the people were
helpless as the assistance pledged by the state government in its sensitisation
messages were not in sight.
“It has not been easy, the water levels have been on the increase and it
is usually expected at this time of the year, but on Tuesday the flood entered
our houses and we have been under pressure.
“We need help badly but no one seems to care, we have resorted to moving
some of our valuable things to neighbours houses because there are no shelter
provided by government.
“Our prayer is that the water goes back because if it goes beyond this
level, even the good Samaritans accommodating us will be threatened as well,”
Elvis said.
John Abide, another resident said that they have been compelled to use
local canoes to access their homes following the constantly rising water levels
in the past few days.
“A lot of people affected are not willing to leave because they are
reluctant to be a burden to their kit and keen, so what most people do is to
adapt by making wooden platforms within their houses where important things are
kept.
“Those who have and paddled canoes have put it to use when they have
need to go out, we are predominantly people who go to the river regularly to
fish so we are not so afraid of water,” he said
Meanwhile the Bayelsa government had on Monday said it is determined to
ensure that no life is lost in the flood disaster that is currently ravaging
the state.
Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson who made the remark
in Yenagoa while giving an update of the situation assured that with the
proactive steps government had put in place, there was no cause for alarm.
He explained that the government is working round the clock to ensure
that those whose houses have been submerged by the flood gets immediate
succour.
Iworiso-Markson urged the people not to panic as the government is fully
committed to their plights and is doing everything to avoid a repeat of the
2012 flood incident.
According to him, latest report indicates that communities like Egwe-ama
in Brass Local Government, Imiringi, Ayama, Otuobhi in Ogbia, Edwarie in
Southern Ijaw and Trofani in Sagbama have all been hit by the flood.
Others he said are Ekeremor main town, Abukoegede in Tamogbene, Ekeremor
Local Government Area, Kaiama and Sampou in Kolokuma/Opokuma and Anibeze
Community in Sagbama local area.
He called on residents of the state who live in flood prone areas to
work with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other relevant
agencies of government for immediate evacuation to temporal sites away from
their homes.
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