Humanitarian Crisis Looms As Water Hyacinths Cut Off Delta Communities

Humanitarian crisis is looming in several riverine communities in Burutu, and Warri South West local government areas as waterweeds popularly known as water hyacinth have cut off the communities from the outside world.

The revolving weeds have completely invaded the River Kototo near Warri, blocking the entire waterways thus making it difficult for residents to travel out to Warri city to buy food and other consumable stuffs.

This is the only access river that linked River Forcados to Warri where people moved their goods and services to Warri.

A source from the area said that residents from Isaba, Gbekebor, Obotebe, Ayakoromo, Oyangbene, Eseimogbene, Akparemogbene, Egolegbene among other communities along the Forcados River and its estuaries in Burutu, Bomadi and Warri South West local governments areas cannot travel to and from Warri because of the blockade.

Even fast boats such as hover crafts and others have to spend two to three hours at the barricaded spot in the river before escaping the scourge of these dangerous weeds.

Some locally made wooden transport boats alway spent three to four days in the river with no hope of escaping from the hyacinths which locked the free flow of movement in the surface water.

Alaowei E. Cleric, who reacted to the development called on relevant governments’ intervention agencies to take an urgent action to arrest the situation.

“We specifically call on the NDDC, DESOPADEC, MENA and SEMA to immediately swing into action in order to save the situation, he said.

Cleric, who is the National President, Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusaders (FOHURAC), said that the affected communities may face with the danger of humanitarian crisis if urgent steps is not taken as they cannot come to Warri to exchange goods and services.

The Delta State Government and representatives in the various governments’ departments from the affected communities as well as the Burutu and Warri South West local governments councils should take a joint investigative visit to the river to see things for themselves in order to proffer an immediate solution.

“Time is of essence as people are already suffering from an untold hardship in the river, he added.