The Bayelsa State government has raised an alarm that the impact of this year’s flooding might result in a humanitarian crisis.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Iselema Gbaranbiri, cited the concern on Saturday while giving an update on the committee’s activities.
Gbaranbiri, who is also chairman of the state’s Task Force on Flood Mitigation and Management, said no fewer than 300 communities and villages have either been totally or partially submerged in the state.
He disclosed that about 700,000 persons have either been displaced or affected by the flood.
The Environment Commissioner said there had been reported cases of corpses being washed up at the cemetery in Asokoro, raising concerns of an impending health crisis.
He, however, promised that the government would do its best to bring relief to victims of the flood as the committee was working round the clock to address the challenges of the current crisis.
On Friday, Governor Douye Diri restated his proposal for a post-flood management roundtable between worst-hit states and the Federal Government.
While lamenting the huge cost of fixing the damaged roads by his government, Diri stressed that individual losses of property and deaths would be minimal if a permanent solution was immediately adopted.
