The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Yobe branch, on Tuesday, shared N77,000 to each of the 1,000 victims of the 2024 flood disaster in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the LGAs include Fune, Bursari, and Gulani.
NAN also reports that each beneficiary received an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card loaded with N77,000 to support livelihood recovery.
The Yobe Chairman of the group,
Dr Mulima Mato, said the intervention, funded by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, was meant to assist the victims to rebuild their lives.
Mato said that the gesture would help the victims to restore their livelihoods and pick up the pieces of their lives.
He expressed gratitude to the State Government for creating an enabling environment for humanitarian operations.
The state Secretary, Malam Garba Alhaji-Mai, spoke mainly on the society’s volunteer strength.
Alhaji-Mai said that over 5,000 trained volunteers across the 17 LGAs of the state were always ready to respond to disasters and epidemics.
The NRCS National Representative, Malam Hassan Yusuf, urged beneficiaries to use the funds judiciously and not give out any part of it as gratification.
Yusuf said that NRCS conducted a similar intervention in Machina, Yusufari, and Gulani last year.
He, therefore, appreciated the Yobe Government’s continued support and appealed for further collaboration.
In a remark, Gov. Mai Mala-Buni said the State Government had expended N169 million on relief materials for flood victims across the state.
Buni, represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Idi Gubana, said that N100 million was distributed to victims in Karasuwa, Nguru, and Nangere LGAs.
“The cash support being distributed today will serve as succour to assist victims in resettling after the disaster,” he said.
The Executive Secretary, Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Mohammed Goje, affirmed the government’s commitment to disaster preparedness and resilience.
Goje, represented by the Director of Rescue Operations in the agency, Dr Jalo Mohammed, said the intervention was not only about cash distribution but restoring hope and rebuilding livelihoods.
He also urged the beneficiaries to use the funds wisely. (NAN)
