Yobe, UN agency scale up emergency responses to floods, other disasters

The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) have intensified emergency responses to recurring floods and other disasters exacerbated by conflict.

Speaking at a news conference in Damaturu on Monday, the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Dr Mohammed Goje, unveiled the strategic responses, noting that they were designed to strengthen preparedness and resilience in vulnerable communities.

“Our emergency responses to the ongoing floods and other natural disasters involve actively engaging local and international development partners to improve disaster preparedness and build resilience among the people,” he said.

Goje stressed that the measures were crucial in addressing a crisis that has already claimed lives and destroyed property in the state. He said the theme of the strategy, “Strengthening Emergency Response and Building Community Resilience,” underscores joint efforts by SEMA and UN-OCHA to enhance disaster preparedness.

The SEMA boss identified recurring natural disasters, including wind and sandstorms, as well as yearly floods along the Kumadugu/Yobe River Basin, as major challenges. He linked them to conflict-induced displacements and widespread destruction.

“To sustain resilience against recurring floods, the agency and UN-OCHA are working together to protect lives and property by strengthening partnership and taking decisive action,” he said .

Goje underscored the importance of collaboration among Federal Government agencies, development partners, humanitarian organisations, the private sector and affected communities to mobilise resources for a coordinated response.

He urged stakeholders to align with the state government’s contingency plans to maximise the impact of interventions, while cautioning against duplication of efforts. He also advised communities to take early-warning systems seriously, particularly advisories on flood risks and other climate change-related disasters.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}