The European Humanitarian Aid in partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross, have distributed hygiene and sanitary items to 500 women affected by the 2024 flood disaster in Kogi State.
The items were provided by EU under its 2024 Integrated Flood Response intervention project, through the International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Mr Abdullahi Abubakar, Acting Branch Secretary in Kogi, the Nigeria Red Cross Society, said the initiative was a follow up to the relief items and cash donated to 1,100 households by the organisation in December 2024, as a response to flood disaster in the state.
According to him, this particular project covers 500 women who are within the child bearing age, in 11 communities across three local government areas of Lokoja, Kogi, and Idah LGA.
He stated that the 500 women comprised 220 from four communities in Lokoja, 160 from four communities in Kogi, and 120 women from three communities in Idah.
“The communities are: Galilee, Kasuwan Ruwa, Sarkin-Noma, Edo and Kanpe in Lokoja LGA; Onumaye, Edegaki, Ogbangede and Irenedu in Kogi; and Ala-Ichala, Ala-Atanegoma, and Als-Ofukpoju communities in Idah LGA.
“Our target this time around is Sanitation because when flood happens there are lots of things that will come up including health issues which is our major priority.
“The beneficiaries are mothers who are still into child bearing, who were earlier selected randomly across the communities across three local government areas,” he said.
He stressed that the EU, through its intervention project, in partnership with Red Cross, had provided relief and recovery supports to thousands of flood-affected households in many States.
Abubakar urged the beneficiaries to effectively use the items to ensure that they maintain proper menstrual hygiene and sanitation.
He advised the beneficiaries and residents of flood prone communities to adhere to the early warning signs, and relocate to upland for their own safety as the rainy season approaches.
He added: “The flood will definitely come as predicted by Nimet, so prevention is always better and safer than cure.
“We also appeal to the local community leaders to identify the highland areas ahead of time to enable them move to such areas before the community is flooded”.
The items’ distribution was carried out by Red Cross consecutively across the three local government areas
Some of the beneficiaries, Sefinat Umar from Lokoja; Farida Ibrahim from Kogi; and Victoria Ubani from Idah, who spoke to journalists in their various LGAs, commended the Red Cross and the European Union Humanitarian Aid for the gesture.
“We really appreciate the European Union and Red Cross for the gesture because they have really tried for us.
“They gave us relief items such as 20-litre jerrycans, buckets, Aqua tabs, and ATM preloaded cards with N77,000 each, in December 2024, which greatly help us to meet our immediate needs
“We are grateful to the EU and Red Cross for coming again to give us sanitary items and others. May God bless them,” Ibrahim said.
“The items distributed included: Dettol, bathing and washing soaps, reusable sanitary pads, undies, cream, detergents, tooth paste and brush, slippers, torch light, among others.
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