Assistance to Far North Region flood victims: MINAT boss reveals Biya’s financial package increased to 1.9 billion FCFA.

The member of government told reporters in Yaounde, Tuesday, that the huge disbursements from President Biya has been made in just three days.

Minister Atanga Nji was speaking while supervising the dispatch of 22 truckloads of relief items from President Paul Biya to flood victims.  

The truckloads of relief materials left the nation’s capital city, Yaounde, Tuesday, for the Far North Region, after a ceremony minister Atanga Nji chaired at the 20^th May Boulevard. 

Administrative authorities of the Centre Region, led by Governor Naseri Paul Bea, and other officials lived the brief ceremony. 

Biya’s financial assistance increases to 1.9 billion 

Speaking to reporters at the end of the ceremony, Minister Atanga Nji said President Biya, after initially disbursing 350 million FCFA, has made available fresh financial assistance to victims. 

“We initially announced 350 million FCFA. The Head of State added 500 million FCFA and later 800 million FCFA. So, we are talking of something about one billion, 900 million FCFA, the Head of State has disbursed in less than three days, so that we can effectively carry assistance to the victims of the floods,” Minister Atanga Nji disclosed. 

Minister Atanga Nji seized the opportunity to reiterate that the President of the Republic matches his words with actions at all times when it concerns citizens who are in dire situations. 

“This sign of solidarity is a strong action and a clear message that the Head of State, President Paul Biya, does what he says and says what he does. This is a sign of national solidarity,” Atanga Nji reiterated as if to put to shame social media critics who had mounted rooftops to rubbish the initial financial assistance which President Biya had announced.

The member of government said the prompt actions from the Head of State has greatly been appreciated by the flood victims who have been channeling their words of appreciation to the Head of State. 

“That is why the population is very happy. We have been having messages from the local population in Yagoua telling us to send their messages of gratitude and unflinching support to President Paul Biya,” he disclosed. 

Truckloads dispatched to victims 

Minister Atanga Nji had prior to the revelations supervised the dispatch of 22 truckloads, carrying both food and non-food items for victims.

“We have 22 trucks that will leave here for Yagoua. There are 12 trucks that will leave Garoua for Yagoua. We also have 12 trucks stationed in Maroua,” he disclosed. 

The minister sounded upbeat that in the next three days, the relief items will be distributed to the affected population in the Far North Region. 

The financial offers from the Head of State, it should be said, is handled by the Department of Civil Protection in the Ministry of Territorial Administration and local administrative authorities.

The huge package adds to other temporal measures taken by the President of the Republic, to improve on the situation of the hundreds of families affected by the floods.

The floods have led to the death of over 11 people, while over 900 families, totaling plus 4,375 people, have been displaced as a result of the flood.

Minister Atanga Nji had disclosed that the flood situation in the Mayo Danay Division alongside other administrative units such as Logone and Chari Divisions among others, are not unconnected to climate change. He called for collective action to handle the situation.

He had reiterated the Head of State’s appeal for people nationwide in risky zone to vacate and take preventive measures to evade disasters.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3233 of Wednesday September 18, 2024