The President General (PG) of Umueri Community in Anambra State, Amb. Chief Johnny Chukwudi Metchie has expressed disappointment over the absence of both the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in the management of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the State.
Anambra is one of the worst affected States in this year’s flood disaster with many people killed, communities submerged in water while properties worth hundreds of millions of Naira were damaged.
Metchie, in a chat with journalists on Tuesday, expressed fears that there may soon be a serious outbreak of some diseases in the camps because of the unprofessional ways things are managed, including food, medicine and other items being donated by well-meaning individuals and organizations.
The chief, who was recently appointed as the African Director of the International Association of World Peace Advocates, lamented that what he saw in the IDP camps in Umuleri, Aguleri and the entire State was far below what is acceptable anywhere in the world.
He said rather than NEMA and SEMA, the Anambra flood victims IDP camps are put entirely in the hands of new local government council chairmen who, apart from not having any experience in disaster management, are not even engaging the services of experts, including health officials, nurses, medical doctors and others, to ensure that essential food and drugs are safe for the victims.
He said: “I have been going round the different IDP camps in Anambra State. While I commend the efforts of the state government led by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo in quickly responding to the needs of the victims by setting up IDP camps, I cannot but express disappointment with the total absence of federal agencies like NEMA, as well as SEMA which would have brought in some level of professionalism in the operations.
“It falls below all known standards of disaster management to leave the coordination in the hands of local government chairmen who have no requisite knowledge and expertise to coordinate such a huge crisis as we have on our hands currently.
“In cases where NEMA is involved, they come with health officials, nurses, medical doctors, security and others.
“This is to ensure that victims are not given expired and other unwholesome drugs. Victims that are put in IDP camps need security to ensure that they are not attacked or even robbed of the food and other relief items being donated by well-meaning individuals and organizations.
“So, why has NEMA, a federal government agency, abandoned Anambra at this critical time?
“There is also the need for accountability in order to ensure that donated relief materials are not diverted.”
“Many of the victims in the IDP camps are sleeping on bare floors under heavy cold and breeze, and at the mercy of mosquitoes.
“This is dangerous. Again, the local government chairmen should be working with NEMA, SEMA, Red Cross and other stakeholders,” Metchie stated.