By Osiregbeme Abdullah Egbakhime
As part of the preparation to mitigate the impact of flood in Edo state, stakeholders in emergency response have opted for the deployment of local divers to rescue victims in the state.
The Stakeholders include National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Edo State Emergency Management Agency (EdoSEMA), Red Cross, International Organization for Migration (IOM), NYSC, Army, Air force, NSCDC, Edo States Ministry of Health and Agriculture, National Orientation Agency, Fire Service among others.
NEMA Head, Benin Operation office, Mr Kenoma Ojuederie, disclosed to journalists after a meeting of the stakeholders on Wednesday.
“We have agreed to use local divers in flood prone communities to rescue victim during the flood. We will identified some of them and trained them on how to give first aid treatment to rescued victims. We are also going to use engine boat to rescue people out the flood area to safety,” he said.
He noted that the local divers are identified as first responders because they would be on ground when disaster occurred in the communities before the arrival of stakeholders.
He said engine boats are needed because there are areas ambulances and vehicles cannot access during flooding.
He said they would organise stimulation exercise to practicalise the state flood response plan to ensure it is workable and effective .
He appealed to the governor to support the exercise, so that it can achieve the desire results
He said the vulnerable who may not be able to help themselves during flood would be identified with a view to attend to the first during emergency situation.
Also speaking, the executive secretary, EdoSEMA, Jerry Idahosa, said the state is fully prepared for the flood as food, drugs, toiletries and other essentials items have been stocked to avoid being caught unaware.
He called on residents in flood prone communities to follow the directives when flood alert warning are issued and adhere to instructions.
Idahosa noted that the state has set up local emergency committee who are sensitising people in the coastal areas on when to move and how to move to safe place.
He, however, called residents in flood communities to follow the directives when flood alert warning is issued and adhere to instructions.
