As part of efforts to reduce the effects of the 2022 floods in Delta State, residents of the river community in Isoko South and Ughelli North Local Council, have received aid materials from the Coca-Cola Foundation, in partnership with the Whitefield Foundation, an indigenous non-profit organization that already exists since 2003.
Aid materials were received in Igbide by the President-General Voice of Igbide People (VOIP), Dr. Ufuoma Ekeaba. In Aviara Kingdom, the Chairman of Isoko Kidul local council, Victor Asasa received aid materials while in Uwheru Kingdom, they were fully received by city leaders and community representatives in His Majesty’s palace, Ajuwe Simpson Sapele, Obruche II Odio Rodeae, Uwheru Kingdom Ughelli council area North.
Provided as aid materials to the community are: family unit food packages (Rice, Garri, and Eggs); water purification agents to help prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases. For the farmers, the Whitefield Foundation donated 400,000 cassava stalks.
The beneficiaries also received 100 Cartons of Bottled Water and 100 Cartons of Fruit Juice, from the Nigerian Bottling Company.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Whitefield Foundation, Mrs. Funmi Johnson lamented the negative impact of the floods on the affected people. The agency, he said, is committed to eradicating poverty among the underprivileged, women, and youth.
In his words, “We visited the flood affected communities in the state like Owodokpokpo, Ekpo, Uruwhre, Egbo, Oteri, Iloge/Urovor and Ubini-Atai to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the flood. The 2022 flood experience is considered the worst in years Finally, we aim to reach at least 2,500 families, with an average of six people per family making 15,000 residents in the affected community.
During the delivery of relief items to Igbide Kingdom, Uwheru Kingdom, and Aviara Kingdom, the communities were also educated on how to prevent the spread of water borne diseases and other communicable diseases as water purification agents were given to them.
The President General of the Igbide People in Isoko South local council, Chief Ugolo Egbaoghene, as well as the President General of Uwheru Kingdom, Mr. Macpherson Igbedi lamented the huge impact of the floods on some local governments.
Both sides agreed that the intervention was quite timely because cassava stems, which are very rare and valuable, have now become “Diamond” and “Gold”.
I hope that this donation will be useful to reduce the suffering of the people and to restore a viable and profitable livelihood for those who are suffering. The intervention will help agriculture-based communities recover from flood disasters and restore subsistence livelihoods.
A follow-up plan has been developed for January 2023 to track the progress of beneficiaries.