The United Nigeria Airlines has donated relief materials to five host communities in Bayelsa to mitigate the effects of the flood disaster.
Chimara Imediegwu, Director, Flight Operations, stated this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.
He said that the relief materials were donated to the communities in order to reduce the hardship in the state.
He also called on other private organisations to fulfil their Corporate Social Responsibility to communities devasted by the flood.
“This is not a lot and we would wish we had a lot, but we thank God that the people have survived and I love the Nigerian spirit that never gives up.
“So, we are looking forward to better days ahead and we want to thank God that there is a future and we look forward to our children growing in better environments.
“We know that people have been rendered homeless, there is cold and insect bites and there has to be food and water to drink.
“So we are appealing to the rest of private and government arms to help and reach out now that our people are in need and not wait until we mourn,” he added.
Mr Gbaranbiri Eselemo, Commissioner for Environment, Bayelsa, expressed his gratitude to United Nigeria Airlines for their donations to the communities
According to Eselemo, over 400 communities are displaced as ancestral homes have been lost to the flood.
“It is when you are in grief that you know your friends and United Nigeria Airlines has proven to be a friend and brother to Bayelsa ,so we thank you for empathising with us and for standing with us.
“You have said you are bringing more to the affected victims and particularly your host community, so we will continue to work together so that tomorrow will be better for all of us,” he said.
Mr Alakamo Ogbe, Chairman, Landlord Forum of the five host communities affected by flood, said that the relief materials would help reduce the current hardship and called on others to also intervene.
Mr Abraham Apereseimokomo, Managing Director, Bayelsa International Airport, commended the efforts of the airline, saying: “United Nigeria Airlines is a private entity and they owe the host community a duty of care, which they have examplified, through the donations.
“For the fact that this has happened, the management of Bayelsa International Airport is elated and they want to say a big thank you. The message will get to the governor of Bayelsa State,”.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that tems donated include bags of rice, noodles, salt, sugar, cooking oil, potable drinking water, beverages.
Similarly, the Airline in the statement added that it had resumed daily flights to the state.