Two Die In Edo Camps

Two deaths have so far been recorded in the relief camps provided for flood victims in Edo State, the News Agency of Nigeria reported on Thursday.

NAN also reported that the displaced persons sleep on bare floor six days after they arrived in the camps.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the situation in the eight camps located in the Etsako Central and Etsako East local government areas of Edo was calm, the victims have appealed to government and public-spirited individuals for assistance.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Cordilia Awieze, who confirmed the deaths, said an outbreak of chickenpox had been reported in the camps.

Awieza said efforts were being made by the state government to ensure that the displaced persons live well in the camps.

She said that from the N100m the state government provided, relief materials for the victim, drugs had also been bought and distributed to the camps.

NAN reports that four days after the government ordered the release of the money for the purchase of relief materials, only drugs were purchased and supplied to the camps.

The victims complained that they fed themselves from the little items and money they brought from their homes until the National Emergency Management Agency supplied them with foodstuffs two days ago.

One of the victims, Amos Adodo, told NAN, “With the little assistance from the Etsako Central Local Government Council, we have been feeding ourselves since we arrived in the camp.

“This is until two days ago when we got bags of rice, beans, garri, gallons of groundnut oil, palm oil, beverages among others from NEMA.

“We are yet to see anything from the state government apart from the drugs and ambulances that moved around.

“Aside from some of us who came with mattresses and mats, majority of us still sleep on bare floor since we arrived the camp last week Tuesday.”

Another victim, Mr Yakubu Illia, appealed to government to supply them with consumables, sleeping mats, mattresses and other items that would make them comfortable in the camps.

A NAN correspondent, who went round the camps reports that the council where the camps are located had provided conveniences for the victims.