Yola flood victims urges house – to – house registration of victims

Residents of Yola town affected by flood disaster have called for a house-to-house identification of victims to ensure genuine victims are not left out in palliative support from government agencies.

A cross section of residents who spoke to our correspondent in Yola said many victims did not go to the two camps opened by the government to register, hence they were not captured as victims.

Mrs Hajarat Lawan, a victim said, “Most of us went to stay with friends and relatives while some stayed in their affected houses rather than go to camps to rush for rations.

“We have some valuables in our compounds that would be stolen by thieves and vandals if we decided to go to the camps.

“Government and relevant agencies should consider visiting homes with ward heads to register victims and provide them with needed support.

Yakubu Bappa of Yolde-Pate ward, also a victim observed that only house to house identification would ensure that genuine victims were reached with support.

According to him, many people that rushed to camps to register were not genuine victims.

“That’s why you’ll see some of them being rowdy and unruly when they should be sober as victims of a disaster,” Bappa said.

Another victim, Usman Oscar of Shagari low-cost housings, also emphasised the need for house-to-house intervention to ensure prudence and accountability.

“I want to commend government for its timely response and also to advise its committees to embark on the spot assessment by visiting victims in their houses.

“Affected areas are already known. They are in the town making it easy for officials to visit for proper verification.

“Camps should be for people who have nowhere to sleep. When it come to provide support in terms of food and non food items like mosquito nets and blankets, going house to house is the best approach,” Oscar said.

Joseph Auta, Danjuma Abdullahi, Simon Kaigama, Comfort Bazza and Maryam Ibrahim of Sabon-Pegi and Tashan-Sani who vowed not to go to camps, appealed to government to get them registered in their homes for support.

“Staying in camps is not a dignified thing and that’s why most people don’t want to go there if they can help it.

“Government on its part needs to show respect to those who choose to manage at their affected homes or with relatives by ensuring whatever that is given to those in the camps also reaches them,” Auta said.

Our correspondent reports that the Yola flood disaster that occurred on Sunday, claimed several lives with many houses and properties destroyed.