Flooding: Stakeholders Hail JDPC Onitsha’s Reduction Impact, Validate Disaster Handbook

By Praise Chinecherem

Stakeholders in flood disaster management in Anambra State have commended the Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC) Onitsha for its Flood Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Project currently running in twelve communities of Ogbaru Local Government Area.

The project, funded by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), has combined Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies with Sustainable livelihood Approach, reaching thousands in one of Anambra’s most flood-prone local government areas.

The commendations came during the validation of a Community Emergency Management Committee (CEMC) Handbook, developed to guide communities in flood preparedness and response after the intervention ends.

Peculiar Orji, Disaster Management Coordinator of the Nigerian Red Cross, Anambra, described the handbook as a “crucial resource” for Ogbaru LGA.

“Anyone intervening in Ogbaru can now leverage this document as a guide to managing flood risks,” he said.

Nnamdi Esimai, Coordinator of the Ogbaru Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC), applauded JDPC’s broad support.

“They have renovated schools and health centres, distributed food and non-food items, and begun unconditional cash transfer enumeration.

“Ogbaru deeply appreciates them and calls on other NGOs and government agencies to emulate their efforts.”

From the community level, leaders also expressed gratitude. Olisa Nelson, CEMC Coordinator in Ochuche, said residents could attest to JDPC’s impact.

“They have given us cassava stems, yam tubers, and soon unconditional cash transfers. Even the state government does not have a handbook of this kind we are validating today,” he noted.

Health and education officials joined the commendation. Chike Obi of the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency highlighted JDPC’s role in rehabilitating facilities.

“Some days back, I was informed about some of the facilities they renovated. They have done so much to complement government’s efforts.

Ogbaru LG Education Secretary, represented by Michael Onwurah, extolled the NGO for repairing some flood-damaged schools.

“This handbook will serve as a guide for emergency responders to reduce destruction and loss during flooding,” Onwurah said.

Some stakeholders described JDPC as filling gaps left by government. “They are the government to the grassroots,” said Elshaddai Joseph of LEMC, listing farm input distributions and cash transfer activities as examples.

Similarly, Obianuju Obiefuna of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said JDPC’s complementary role deserved replication by other institutions.

Victor Ositadimma, Secretary of Atani JDPC, recalled how local evidence of flood damage spurred the organization to renovate schools and health centres across 12 communities.

Earlier, in his welcome address, JDPC Onitsha Executive Director, Rev. Fr. Edwin Udoye, said the validation ensured community ownership of the handbook.

He listed the benefitting communities as Akili-Ogidi, Akili-Ozizor, Atani, Mputu, Obeagwe, Odekpe, Ohita, Ochuche, Ogbakuba, Ogwuikpele, Umunankwo, and Ossamala.

According to him, the project seeks to educate communities on disaster risk reduction and early warning systems.

It also builds skills for managing annual floods and strengthen collaboration between communities, local government, and state institutions.

“Since we cannot stop the flood, which is a natural disaster, the handbook will help communities manage it effectively and cushion the effects after this project and donor funding end,” he explained.

The project M&E Officer, Prince Chukwuemeka M, in a project overview provided further details.

He said the intervention operates under two main approaches: disaster risk reduction (DRR) and sustainable livelihood support.

“Under the livelihood component, JDPC Onitsha distributed farm inputs such as yam seedlings, cassava stems, and potato leaves to farmers, with more non-food items and cash transfers scheduled. The disaster risk reduction approach involved forming and training CEMCs in all 12 communities.

“We built their capacity as communities through a series of DRR trainings so that even in our absence, they can independently coordinate their affairs when faced with flood disaster as flood-prone communities. Each community developed a disaster risk management action plan, and today’s validation activity ensures that the relevant disaster management stakeholders approve it before implementation,” Chukwuemeka said.

Stakeholders consistently highlighted renovated schools, rehabilitated health centres, food relief, and farm inputs as crucial supports amid recurring floods.

More importantly, the validated handbook now provides a structured guide for community-driven disaster management.

The project, they agreed, has not only alleviated immediate hardship but also empowered Ogbaru LGA to face future flooding with greater resilience.