Rivers
Group Wants Inclusion Of Women, Persons With Disabilities In Flood Committees
Nature Justice Movement Nigeria, a Non-Governmental Organisation in Nigeria, has called for the inclusion of more women and persons with disabilities in the Rivers State Flood Management Committee.
The group said this at a peaceful protest to Government House in Port Harcourt.
Country representative of the organisation, Barrister Mike Karikpo, said persons with disabilities and women, including young people, suffer more during flood disasters.
He, however, commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalaye Fubara, for taking proactive steps to adress the issues of flooding in the state.
Karikpo said the protest was to call attention for the government to make the committee more inclusive by adding the women, persons with disabilities and young people.
“We will march from here to the Government House to present a petition to both the Governor and the flood Response Committee to expand and ensure that the committee is inclusive.
“That persons with disabilities, the women and young persons are added to the committee”.
He said young persons, the women and person with disabilities have always been victims of flood disasters, adding that these group of persons need to be included as far as flood Response Committees are concerned.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Joint National Association of persons with Disabilities, Mr. Kie Obomanu, said his members have always suffered more during flood disasters.
He said persons with disabilities in Rivers State are demanding that they be included in the various flood Response Committees across the state.
“Climate change has affected persons with Disabilities. We have lost employment and so many things. This is why we are asking for justice.
“We are asking that we should be included in the various flood committees in the state”, he said.
Also speaking, Dr Mfon C. Utin said women have always suffered more during flood disasters.
“The climate change is affecting the women. We are calling on the government to help the women, restore the source of livelihood and employment for our girls”, she urged.
According to her, many women have lost their sources of livelihoods as farmlands have been washed away by flood.
“Our farmlands have been destroyed. The flood has really affected a lot of things. We are calling on the government to help to relocate the women”, she said.
Also, representatives of Student bodies who participated in the protest called for the inclusion of students in the flood committees.
By: John Bibor & Mercy Nobert