Floods: More deaths as Delta, Bayelsa communities face food, water, health crisis

The ravaging floods across Niger Delta region has contaminated drinking water in many riverine communities in Delta and Bayelsa states, where the residents now face food and health challenges.

As at yesterday, the rampaging floods have washed away roads leading to several communities, making it difficult to access the communities, except by boat.

According to reports, the floods have not subsided as many residents were sacked from their homes after their houses were submerged, yesterday.

A former Commissioner in Delta State, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, who is one of the victims, confirmed that drinking water has been contaminated at Patani, Patani Local Government Area of  the state and several other communities in neighbouring Bayelsa State, saying the floods were escalating.

He said: “Apart from Patani where I am from, which is badly affected, there are lots of other communities impacted. As at today (yesterday), connecting roads have been washed away and drinking water in the area is contaminated.

“Access to food is a challenge, access to healthcare is even a greater challenge. I, therefore, want to appeal to us all to join hands with me to intervene.”

Meanwhile, the people of Ogodobiri and other riverine communities in Delta and Bayelsa states have cried out to the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA , and National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to come to their rescue by setting up an Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp in the sandfiled area beside the community, a project of NDDC. Vanguard