To cushion the effect of the 2022 flooding on residents of Delta, riverine communities in Isoko South and Ughelli North LGAs have received relief materials from the Whitefield Foundation, an indigenous not-for-profit organization.

The Coca-Cola Foundation funded the intervention, with the expectation that it will benefit 2,500 Delta State households (with an average of six people per family, for a total of 15000 residents).

The relief materials were received at Igbide by the President-General of the Voice of Igbide People (VOIP), Dr. Ufuoma Ekeaba. In Aviara Kingdom, the Isoko South Local Government Chairman, Hon. Victor Asasa received the relief materials while in Uwheru Kingdom, they were received in full view of town leaders and community representatives at the palace of His Royal Highness, Ajuwe Simpson Sapele, Obruche II Odio Rodeae, Uwheru Kingdom of Ughelli North LGA of Delta State.

Set aside as relief materials and interventions for the communities affected by the recent flood disaster, which wreaked havoc on the properties, lives, and agricultural produce of the people in Delta State, Nigeria, are: family unit food packages (Rice, Garri, and Eggs); water purifying agents to help prevent outbreaks of potentially water-borne diseases; and farm produce (400,000 cassava stems).

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Whitefield Foundation, Mrs. Funmi Johnson, lamented the negative impact of the flooding on the affected people. She said the agency is committed to eradicating poverty among the underprivileged, women, and youth.

In her words, “we visited the flood-affected communities in the state, like Owodokpokpo, Ekpo, Uruwhre, Egbo, Oteri, Iloge/Urovor, and Ubini-Atai, to ascertain the level of damages wrecked by the flood. This year’s flooding has been deemed the worst in recent memory.

The beneficiaries also received 100 cartons of bottled water and 100 cartons of fruit juice, courtesy of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC).

While deploying the relief items to Igbide Kingdom, Uwheru Kingdom, and Aviara Kingdom, the communities were also educated on how to stop the spread of waterborne diseases and other communicable diseases as water purifying agents were presented to them.

The President General of Igbide People in Isoko South LGA, Chief Ugolo Egbaoghene, as well as the President-General of Uwheru Kingdom, Mr. Macpherson Igbedi, lamented the heavy impact of the flood on their several local governments. Both agreed that this intervention is very timely, as cassava stems, which were previously scarce and expensive, have now been transformed into “diamonds” and “gold.”

The Coca-Cola Foundation and Whitefield Foundation have generously contributed to this intervention to assist flood victims in Delta State, southern Nigeria. In order to monitor the progress being made by the beneficiaries, a follow-up plan has been planned for January 2023.

It is hoped that these donations will go a long way toward ameliorating the suffering of the people and restoring them to an active and rewarding livelihood that was badly affected.