Monday, 20 May 2013
Floods: Relief Funds And Materials Not Reaching Most Victims---TEARFUND, SERAP
By Adetokunbo Mumuni
Two civil society groups, UK-based Tearfund and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have expressed “concerns that relief funds and materials allocated to cater for the needs of the displaced persons and victims of floods in several parts of the country are not reaching those who need them most due primarily to bureaucratic bottlenecks and corruption.”
The groups in a joint public statement dated 4 November 2012 and signed by Tearfund Country Representative, Danladi Musa and SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni stated that, “Lack of transparency and accountability in the use of relief funds and materials have continued to exacerbate the suffering and misery of people and communities who have been let down by their own government. This is double jeopardy for the victims who have lost everything.”
“We urge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to work together to ensure that critical resources and funds to cater for the needs of the flood victims are not diverted, and also investigate and prosecute any allegations of corruption in the disbursement of relief funds and materials. Both agencies should establish a Complaint Hotline where complaints can be reported on a toll-free telephone number,” the groups further stated.
According to the groups, “the government of President Goodluck Jonathan now needs to provide the leadership to ensure that the needs of the victims are swiftly met. Both the federal government and the states affected will have to demonstrate they can spend relief funds transparently and well if they want to really provide the much needed assistance to victims of the massive floods, and help in rebuilding the suffering communities.”
The groups further said that, “both the federal government and the affected states must ensure full transparency in aid flows, allocation, procurement and distribution process, and put in place a tracking system accessible to everyone. But the actual outputs of funds used must also be monitored. Donors and government institutions and other implementing agencies should strive to be accountable to the intended beneficiaries of reconstruction assistance.”
“The federal and state authorities must involve affected communities, including women and vulnerable and marginalized social groups, in decisions relating to relief and reconstruction at all stages of the process. Both authorities should swiftly establish and fully fund community support programmes to assist in the rebuilding of community infrastructure and the restoration of livelihoods and human rights,” the groups also stated.
The groups also said that, “Donors and government and other implementing agencies should ensure that affected communities are provided with accessible and understandable information about relief and reconstruction efforts as well as about the relief and compensation benefits they are entitled to.”
“Apart from transparency issues, the reported government relief funds of around N300 million that have been allocated so far are ridiculously small given the number of people and communities that have been so far affected,” the groups also stated.
It would be recalled that for the past 4 months, Nigeria has experienced severe flooding which has ravaged many parts of the country leading to lose of lives, farm lands, houses and other properties, and displacement of people. The floods have been considered to be one of the worst in the history of Nigeria. Early warning messages from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) indicate that flooding would continue till November 2012. Records from NEMA show that at least 431 people have been killed, hundreds of thousands uprooted and tens of thousands of hectares of farmland have been submerged since the start of July, raising concerns about food security.
Signed:
Danladi Musa Adetokunbo Mumuni
Country Representative Executive Director
Tearfund Nigeria SERAP
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Reaching Out To Victims
Submitted by mai@ aiding victims (not verified) on May 14, 2013 - 07:45.
Corruption is one obstacle alright that blocks faster and efficient giving aid to disaster victims or displaced people. I think Nigeria is not alone in this scenario. This is the reality in most developing countries.
Nigerians, let's call a spade by its real name...
Submitted by Macben D'Gr8 (not verified) on November 9, 2012 - 05:58.
There's no need beating about the bush here... Let us all know that so many souls only travail in the horrible situation of their compatriots.
Nigerians, we've come of age to distinguish justice from injustice. All these our brothers and sisters need is justice and fairness; not the reverse. We've heard of 'RAPE CASES' in refugee camps... Now, the case is denial and marginalisation... Let's call a spade by its real name here. Bureaucracy is not corruption. Let's stop this dignifying baptism of corruption. I've never sighted bureaucracy as a guard to corruption.
So, let's unanimously condemn this unwholesome and dastardly acts on our compatriots. Let's have a pint of accountability and transparency in our dealings with our fellow humans; let's be humane... GEJ, this's time to prove your worth, 'SAVE THESE SOULS...'
Nigerians, let's call a spade by its real name...
Submitted by Macben D'Gr8 (not verified) on November 9, 2012 - 05:46.
There's no need beating about the bush here... Let us all know that so many souls only travail in the horrible situation of their compatriots.
Nigerians, we've come of age to distinguish justice from injustice. All these our brothers and sisters need is justice and fairness; not the reverse. We've heard of 'RAPE CASES' in refugee camps... Now, the case is denial and marginalisation... Let's call a spade by its real name here. Bureaucracy is not corruption. Let's stop this dignifying baptism of corruption. I've never sighted bureaucracy as a guard to corruption.
So, let's unanimously condemn this unwholesome and dastardly acts on our compatriots. GEJ, this's time to prove your worth, 'SAVE THESE SOULS...'
Stealing from distressed people?
Submitted by Danboyi Gomsuk (not verified) on November 5, 2012 - 08:33.
Stealing from distressed people, and depriving them of their needs in times of dire need? This is a horrible crime that instantly calls to Heaven for vengeance! When the perpetrators of these shameful acts begin to experience some funny and unwholesome events in their lives, they will not be able to fathom the cause(s) of these nasty events. They would attribute them to the 'enemy' or witchcraft without realizing the play-out of causes-and-effects. Everybody bears responsibility for his/her actions in this world and hereafter.
More than a shame... No hope for Nigerians and Nigeria.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on November 5, 2012 - 05:47.
In political mess and chaos, the poor masses get killed. But the rich and their families are always out of all the troubles.
When it has to do with health, the poor masses are allowed again to die in general Hospitals, while those we voted fly out for treatment even when they have sour throat or catarrh.
They spend millions in cases of Natural disaster, on the poor only on air and news papers. While they divert even the relieve materials sent by NGOs.
They ride in bullet-proved cars, hi-tech Security gadgets and personnel. While we the poor masses again get hit by bombs... aaaaah no hope!
What a shame! God will judge them
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on November 4, 2012 - 22:43.
This is disgraceful
where are the governors from the SS
Submitted by DERI (not verified) on November 4, 2012 - 13:06.
The issue here is about a group of Nigerians who go about with money at hand, to purchase items meant for the victims of the flood in Delta and Bayelsa state. Dr. Ekiyor has been singled out for praise by many communities in the Niger Delta. He has set up a makeshift hospital in Patani where people go for treatment. Yet there are certain unscrupulous Nigerians waiting at the gates of these clinics to buy the drugs from the poverty ridden souls of the patience. Most of whom spend hours in dugout canoes before they get help. Yet at the end of their journey, certain criminal minded Nigerians wait to purchase what little item are made available to them by this blessed son of the soil-Dr. Ekiyor-If and only if other mouthy Nigerians who made billions from the oil resources of the ppl of the SS, had spared a thought for them-just 50 cents would have made the difference in their miserable lives-the governors in d SS are a disgrace!
Of Floods, NEMA and Emergency Aid
Submitted by Jan Hazo (not verified) on November 4, 2012 - 10:23.
The whole issue was approached by the Execuitve from the bureacratic angle. When there is such a disaster, the NEMA and associated agencies should have reached out tl the states NEMAs and the Local Governments to establishe field offcies where victims could call to be registered and offered emergency assistance. What we have now is the bureaucrats paying themselves for "going out" to assist when it was their schedules they were discharging anyway!
The flodd relief should have commenced from the very moment the floods started in the country within the localities and with good record keeping, a clear idea of extent and levels of needs would have been established and disribution would be much more transparent and open since the locals are all involved and are more aware of the situation on the ground than the Abuja based ogas who tag along with the President and disappear into their offices to "plan" thevnext move!
