Relief materials sent to Nigerian flood victims

Abuja (dpa) - Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), a government agency responsible for aiding victims of natural disasters, sent relief materials Tuesday to victims of Sunday's flood in the northern province of Kaduna.

The River Kaduna flooded its banks following torrential rain Saturday night, washing away thousands of mud houses and rendering up to 100,000 homeless.

The flood also destroyed farmland, a bridge linking Kaduna with its outskirts, a popular stadium and many government buildings situated a good three kilometres from the river.

Unofficial figures put the death toll at 50, many of whom were asleep in their beds when the river flooded, but Kaduna State governor, Ahmed Makarfi, said only two lives were lost.

The NEMA official in charge of distributing relief materials, Abiodun Oladunjoye, said in Abuja Tuesday that relief materials sent to Kaduna included 1,200 bags of rice, some bags of beans, maize, assorted grains, roofing sheets, plastic buckets, mats, planks, clothing and sundry items.

Oladunjoye said victims of the flood could get further assistance after the value of the losses were determined by NEMA officials.

Makarfi has already released relief materials worth 260,000 dollars to the flood victims.

He asked agency officials to ensure the materials were sent to cover victims from the 12 local council areas affected by the flood.

The officer in charge of distribution of the items, Ibrahim Ali, advised victims to assemble in shelter areas designated by the state government so they could benefit from the relief.

Ali said the state government would be in constant touch with the federal government-controlled NEMA to ensure that more relief materials were obtained for the victims.

He said plans were also being finalised to negotiate with the federal government on ways of permanently rehousing the victims. dpa aa sr

AP-NY-09-09-03 1258EDT