OREANDA-NEWS. December 17, 2012. The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) has presented relief and medical materials worth over N75 million to flood victims in Rives, Bayelsa and Delta states. This is in addition to the USD I million jointly donated by SPDC and Shell Nigerian Production Company (SNEPCo) in support of flood displaced persons in 24 states across the country. The money and relief materials were donated through the Red Cross and would be used along the lines of an MoU signed with the humanitarian organisation.

The support comes as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) announced that the floods have claimed 363 lives and displaced 2.1 million people in different parts of the country.

“We are deeply touched by what the flood waters have done to people across the country and in the Niger Delta,” said SPDC Managing Director, and Country Chair Shell Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu. “We recognise that our assistance will not solve all their problems, but it can help them cope with the impact of the tragedy at this time.”

Mr. Sunmonu toured relief camps in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states along with SPDC’s Health-in-Motion team, which treated various ailments, dewormed children, delivered health awareness talks and gave out insecticide treated nets. An SPDC mobile clinic worked with the team and attended to emergencies.

During one outreach at Bishop Dimeari Grammar School, Yenagoa, the biggest of the 28 relief camps in Bayelsa State, the mobile clinic had to support a woman in labour who was rushed to a nearby hospital where she gave birth. The commandant of the camp, Dr. Duonebiyah Udisi said: “We are very happy for the outreach, as it meets the immediate health needs of the displaced people.”

The Health-in-Motion team also donated an assortment of drugs including anti-malaria, anti-hypertensive, anti-fungal, anti-ulcer, anti-diabetics, antibiotics and syrups.

Staff of Shell companies in Nigeria are contributing to a voluntary fund which SPDC will match 100%. SPDC’s support will aid the Red Cross in relief management, camp coordination and management, emergency shelter, livelihood support and early recovery, family reunification, psychosocial support and risk reduction. Earlier, the company had provided helicopter flights, geomatics expertise, satellite imagery and maps of affected areas to aid proper relief operations planning and execution.