Rivers: 28 communities submerged, as Red Cross calls for support 

From Tony John, Port Harcourt

No fewer than 28 communities have been submerged in Rivers State as flood continued to wreak havoc across the country.

This is as the Nigerian Red Cross lamented the impact of flood on communities in Abua/Odual Local Government Area  of Rivers State calling for improved and sustained humanitarian assistance from government agencies and corporate organisations in containing the devastation to lives and property.

Inegewari Kepele, head of Red Cross team deployed to Abua/Odual LGA said the agency was faced with logistics challenges and appealed to interventionist agencies to provide boats to evacuate trapped victims.

He said:”Since October 1, the people of Abua started to experience flooding. In Abua, we have seven districts, we have the Abua central, Emogan Axis, Ochoba axis and the Odual Axis and Emego-Kubo and the Emego-Kubo district is made up of 12 communities and all the 12 communities have been submerged by water. If you go to the Emogan Axis, there are eight communities and they are also flooded, and these people cannot cross to this side and they do not have any camp, for now. Twenty-eight communities are affected in Abua/Odual council and many people are still trapped. Although the local government is doing something to rescue them, we need more help.”

He, however, noted only one death had been recorded, adding that both the state governor and council chairman had been trying to ensure the impact of the flood is not overwhelming.