Mitigating Flood: Early Warning, Early Action Campaign Heightens In Kaduna

(Drama on practical way of managing flood emergency at Nasarawa community, Kaduna)

NIGERIA-

Kaduna is one of Nigerian states with records of devastating flood disaster that had claimed lives and properties in no small measure.

Of course, governments have come and gone with their attempts to provide fire brigade succour to affected people without any serious long term concrete arrangements to save lives and property ever before disaster strike.

One of the important things to do, is to create massive awareness on early warning, early response approach, where the local residents are taught practical ways of mitigating flood or other emergencies before help can reach them in case of necessity.

Over the years, there have been supporting partners in this area especially, as the world creates awareness on climate change, it’s dimensions and how it can be managed.

It is against this background that, a non – governmental organization, Christian Aid Nigeria, is supporting the frontline emergency agencies, media, disaster management students and community based team on early warning for early action campaigns in three local government areas of Kaduna State – Chikun, Kaduna South and Kaduna North.

This campaign came to its zenith on Monday, February 4, 2018 when Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) alongside other sister agencies held simulation exercise on appropriate response during fire and flood emergencies, in Bashama community, Tudun-wada, Kaduna.

Executive Secretary of SEMA, Ben Kure, who was represented by Mubarak Ibrahim during the exercise restated that, the aim was to build local disaster response capacity as well as increasing synergy among response agencies operating in the state.

His words, “the objective was to ensure that, communities, especially first responders are fit, ready and able to provide prompt professional services meant to reduce casualties during fire incidents.

“We know that disaster management is demanding and requires a lot of determination and commitment to accomplish.

“Therefore, we must understand the various roles support agencies ought to play in managing disaster and building community resilience.”

Programme Officer Disaster Management and Peace Building, Christian Aid, Emmanuel Danjuma, expressed optimism that, the exercise would create required skills and resilience for people of the community to provide rescue in emergencies.

The exercise, as witnessed took place in nine communities of the selected LGAs – Ungwar Rimi, Malali, Rafinguza and Haliru Dantoro community in Kaduna North; Romi, Nasarawa in Chikun, and Baranawa and Tudun wada in Kaduna South.

Danjuma noted that, the sensitization and simulation exercise, was in line with the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) as part project of early Warning for Early Response (EWER) initiative.

Sola Ojo sent in this report