The United Towns Agency (UTA), for North South Cooperation, an international Non-Governmental Organisation, has called on the federal government to be proactive in averting natural disasters in the country, like the flooding in Borno State. It called on individuals, corporate organisations and international bodies to come to the aid of victims of the flood disaster in Borno State. In a press statement signed by the Country-President, Ambassador Abigail Amalaha, the agency sympathised with the victims and Borno State government, advising them to be strong in the gace adversity. While saying that the flood disaster could have been averted if the government had adhered to warning signals and put other proactive measures in place, the UTA Nigeria said that proactive measures should be taken to avert future occurrence. The UTA said that with experts’ reports of cracks in dam’s walls, and erosion taking over embankments, it was “incumbent on the state government to put all measures in place to ensure non-occurrence of similar disaster, whether in the immediate or foreseeable future.” The agency expressed sadness that nearly half of the state capital was affected by the disastrous flood after the Alau Dam, a critical infrastructure designed to regulate water flow and provide irrigation and drinking water, overflowed following heavy rainfall. The UTA Nigeria said: “It is saddening that thousands of houses were buried underwater as the rampaging heavy rainfall swallowed people. Most families lost track of one another, while hundreds of residents lost their homes to the disaster. This is very unfortunate. “It is worrisome that the attendant calamity from the flood disaster includes the destruction of thousands of homes and infrastructures, escape of dangerous animals and reptiles from the Sanda Kyarimi Zoo and the escape of several inmates from the correctional centre in the state.” Lamenting that about 30 persons were killed by the flood, while over 400, 000 residents were displaced, UTA Nigeria called on the federal and state governments as well as relevant agencies “to identify the best ways of assisting the victims, apart from the immediate succor they have put in place.” It also called for a robust response plan that would address not only immediate needs but also long-term recovery and rebuilding strategy for the state. “While we sympathize with the victims, we also call on all well meaning individuals, corporate organisations, international bodies to come to the aid of the victims, as well as the state, not only for their immediate need for survival, but also to avert the eruption of epidemic in the state,” it said.
