The Gombe operational Office of the North-East Development Commission has distributed relief materials to victims of recent flood disasters in Yalmatu Deba Local Government Area of the state.
The flag-off of the distribution exercise at the Yalmatu Deba Local Government Secretariat took place barely 24 hours after a similar engagement in Dukku Local Government Area.
Relief items presented to the flood victims included 300 bags of rice, 200 cartons of spaghetti, 100 gallons of vegetable oil, 100 bags of sugar, and 200 pieces each of plastic mats and blankets.
Speaking at the event, NEDC Managing Director Mohammed Goni Alkali — represented by the Head of Gombe Operational Office, Rufai Manu — sympathised with victims in Maikaho Sando and Deba communities. He stressed that the materials were not compensation but a gesture aimed at providing succour.
He commended the cordial working relationship among the NEDC, Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), noting that the synergy enabled a swift response and timely distribution of relief materials. Alkali reiterated the Commission’s commitment to the welfare of the people, particularly those in dire need, describing Yalmatu Deba as a frontline area for its intervention programmes.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Abdullahi Haruna Abdullahi, explained that with the support of the Yalmatu Deba Emergency Management Committee, his agency promptly carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the flood situation. He said the findings, transmitted to the NEDC, prompted the intervention.
Abdullahi praised the NEDC and NEMA for working with the Gombe State Government to provide succour to distressed residents.
Chairman of Yalmatu Deba Local Government Area, Abubakar Hassan Difa, described the NEDC’s support as “a soothing comfort” to the victims. He pledged that the council would complement the effort by allocating resources to assist victims of both flood and windstorm disasters.
While commending Governor Inuwa Yahaya for his environmentally friendly policies, Difa urged residents to take an active role in clearing water channels to prevent future flooding.
• Joshua Danmalam Information Officer SGS’ office Gombe State
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