Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has concluded an on-the-spot assessment of the impact of a windstorm disaster in communities within Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Mr Ezesni Nnanyelugo, Information Officer of NEMA’s Enugu Operations Office, disclosed this to journalists on Friday in Enugu.
He said the assessment covered four autonomous communities in the LGA and was conducted in collaboration with the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (ENSEMA) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS).
Nnanyelugo stated that the exercise, which ended on April 9, involved a joint team that was received by the President-Generals of the affected communities, who guided members through the impacted areas.
“The ferocious windstorm, which occurred at about 9:30 p.m. on April 6, was accompanied by heavy rainfall,” he said.
“It wreaked havoc in several autonomous communities, including Ukete, Achara, Ameke and Mmafu in Oduma, Aninri LGA of Enugu State.
“Residential and public buildings were affected, with many structures having their roofs blown off. There was also damage to household items, shops, markets, schools, places of worship, electrical poles, farmlands and economic trees.”
He noted that the disaster left many victims homeless and without livelihoods but added that no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded.
According to him, the scale of destruction is beyond the coping capacity of the affected communities.
Nnanyelugo, who also led the assessment team, conveyed the sympathy of NEMA and the Federal Government to the affected persons and communities over their losses.
Community leaders, in their response, commended NEMA, ENSEMA and the NRCS for their prompt intervention.
They also appealed to the federal and state governments, as well as organisations and philanthropists, to provide relief materials to alleviate their suffering.
