The Nigerian Red Cross Society has donated the sum of N39.4 million to 1,150 victims of 2018 and 2019 flood disasters in Kogi State.
The Secretary of Kogi State Branch of the society, Alhaji Dan Usman, disclosed this in Lokoja while speaking at the 2019 Annual General Meeting of the society
He said that 900 of the beneficiaries were households affected by the flood in 2018, while the remaining 250 were victims of the disaster in 2019.
Usman said that the households were the most vulnerable of all the victims of the disaster , saying that they lost their personal belongings and means of livelihood to the disaster.
According to him, each of the victims of the 2018 flood disaster will receive N30,500, while the 2019 victims will receive N47,800 each.
He said that the assistance from The Red Cross Society was to assist them to start life again, saying that the beneficiaries were selected from Lokoja, Ibaji, and Kogi local government council areas of the state.
Usman said that the society had also distributed hygiene kits and food baskets to 1,100 households in flood ravaged communities in Ibaji, Lokoka and Kogi local governments during the year.
He said that 20 hand pumps and seven motorised boreholes were also repaired, while semi-permanent latrines were provided for seven primary schools across the state.
The state Chairman of the society, Hon. Umar Isah, identified flood disaster and motor accident as the major emergencies in the state.
He appealed for more support from the state government and corporate organisations, especially in the areas of office accommodation and motor ambulances for rescue operations.
Isah commended volunteers working with the society for their support and cooperation, appealing for more support from other stakeholders like the media, fire services, civil defence and the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Highlights of the event was the swearing-in of Isah and other newly elected officers and presentation of certificate of merit to 12 volunteers as part of activities marking this year’s International Volunteers Day.
