NRCS Unveils Italian Funded Flood Response Project in Anambra

By Ukpa Ewa

The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Anambra State Branch, has flagged off implementation plans for flood intervention project funded by the Italian Government, targeting over 400,000 vulnerable Nigerians affected by the 2024 flood.

Unveiling the project during a stakeholder coordination meeting in Awka, NRCS State Secretary, Engr. Kingsley Okoye, disclosed that the intervention was part of a broader regional humanitarian project facilitated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), covering five African countries, including Nigeria.

According to Engr. Okoye, although the funding was approved to address last year flood impacts, rollout and disbursement will commence this year, with project activities running from June to December 2025.

Twelve flood prone states were selected for the intervention: Borno, Adamawa, Sokoto, Gombe, Niger, Nasarawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Enugu, Imo, and Lagos. In Anambra, Ogbaru and Anambra West LGAs were mapped out as the most affected zones.

Eight hard to reach communities will benefit directly from the initiative Akiliogidi, Oguikpeke, Osamala and Obeagwa in Ogbaru and Igbedo, Inoma, Ukwala and Owelle in Anambra West.

Engr. Okoye also revealed that 50 community based volunteers will be trained to conduct sensitization campaigns on early warning systems, early action, flood preparedness and disaster resilience.

In her remarks, NRCS State Chairman, Prof. Charity Emelle, called for collective action among stakeholders. “This meeting is about synergy coming together to make things better and move humanity forward,” she said.

Also speaking, the NRCS National Disaster Response Team Opara StellaMaris underscored the urgency of preemptive actions such as clearing waterways, relocating from danger zones, safeguarding vital items and sharing alerts.

Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, Comrade Emeka Odogwu, Ph.D pledged full media collaboration to amplify the Red Cross campaign. “Journalists are everywhere and we are ready to partner with Red Cross to spread lifesaving messages,” he affirmed.

The coordination meeting attracted stakeholders from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, UNICEF, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Anambra State Town Unions Council and key community leaders.