The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief materials worth millions of naira to no fewer than 1,000 flood victims in Imo.
The victims are from the Federal housing estate at Egbu in Owerri North and Obodoukwu in Ideato North Local Government Areas.
Presenting the materials to the victims on Friday in Owerri, the Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Dr Innocent Ezeaku, warned the people against erecting buildings close to drainage systems or rivers.
Ezeaku said the state government must be proactive by making sure that all buildings close to drainages or rivers are pulled down to avoid flooding in future.
He said some of the disasters in Nigeria were caused by human factors, adding that it should be made punishable for anyone to cause blockage along the water ways.
Ezeaku said though NEMA was ready to respond to any emergency situation and give relief materials, it was better for victims to avoid disaster than to receive relief materials.
“People must know that relief material is just to assist victims but it is always better to play safe so that some of the natural disasters could be avoided,” he said.
No fewer than 1,000 victims from the two communities were present to receive the items.