The flood disaster

While modest rainfall is desirable for farmers, too much of it causes the exact opposite, as people in over 30 communities in the URR have just realised.

The inhabitants of these villages in the URR last Saturday experienced excessive rainfall that continued long into the night, leaving in its wake untold destruction and killing of an 11-year-old boy by lightning.

According to reports, some houses collapsed, while several bags of rice were destroyed, in addition to the destruction of large quantity of clothes, mosquito nets and bed sheets.

For provincial people, the loss of food stuff, among others, is a catastrophe. It is so, because it does not only represent a loss of revenue, but it is a threat to their existence.

When someone lost all his/her sources of income in any flood, then the worst could be feared.

As experienced over the years, most flood disaster has led to a humanitarian crisis, with some of the displaced people living in school classrooms. This is pathetic to say the least.

We have to commend the National Disaster Management Agency under the Office of the Vice-President for their prompt response to disasters all over the country in recent times. In quickly responding to such calamities that befall mostly the poor and vulnerable people, the NDMA has shown a presence of mind that is required in effective leadership and coordination. The new challenge is for the agency to harness the support that would soon be pouring in for the benefit of those already suffering from floods, as a result of this year?s rainy season.

The NDMA needs all the support it can get to rehabilitate flood disaster victims and their family members. The agency is the rallying point of solidarity in this troubling time for the flood disaster victims. The victims need to be housed, fed and clothed.

Also individuals, organisations and communities have to show solidarity by giving the little they can give.