The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday distributed relief materials to victims of fire disasters in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Taraba.
Hajia Zubaida Umar, Director-General of NEMA, at the distribution ceremony in Jalingo, advised the beneficiaries not to sell the relief materials to merchants.
Umar listed the LGAs as Jalingo, Lau and Zing in Taraba.
Represented by Mr Giwa Kurutsi, Head of Search and Rescue, Yola Operations Office of the agency, she said that the relief materials were basically food items.
She listed the items to include: rice, maize, vegetable oil, tomato paste, Maggi and salt.
While sympathising with the victims for their losses, Umar said that the gesture was aimed at bringing succour to them rather than compensation.
In her remark, Dr Echuse Audu, Executive Secretary, Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TASEMA) commended NEMA for coming to the aid of the victims.
Represented by Mr Yusuf Ubandoma, Secretary of TASEMA, she said that NEMA had always given assistance to victims of disasters in the state.
She expressed the determination of the agency to sustain the robust partnership with NEMA while appealing to the agency not to get tired with the state in its situation of need.
“As Oliver Twist, we will still ask for more assistance from you especially now that the state is hit by many disasters.
“Government cannot do it alone and we are therefore, calling on well spirited individuals and corporate organisations to also assist in bringing succour to victims of these disasters in the state,” Audu pleaded.
Mr Jetro Yakubu, one of the beneficiaries who hails from Lau LGA appreciated NEMA for the provision of relief materials to them.
Yakubu said that the items would go a long way in cushioning the effect of the disasters on the victims.
Also speaking, Mrs Aisha Inuwa, another beneficiary form Jalingo LGA thanked NEMA for its intervention to the victims of the fire disaster.
Inuwa assured that the items would not be sold out as all the victims were in need of them.(NAN)
