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Borno flood: We’ve received only N4.4bn of N13.1bn donation — Official
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Borno State Government on Monday said that only N4.4 billion of the N13.1 billion donations for victims of the Maiduguri flood has been received.
The Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, disclosed this in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
He spoke while giving an update at the Borno State Government Flood Disaster Situation Room.
Tar said the available funds had been handed over to the newly-inaugurated Disaster Relief Disbursement Committee, made up of people of integrity for disbursement to the victims.
He said it is an all encompassing committee with members from federal and state agencies, technocrats, traditional and religious leaders as well as representatives from the military, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, among others.
He said: “This morning, the governor launched cash support for the first batch of households for the commencement of rebuilding their homes.”
According to Tar, victims that received food items and cash support to last them for two weeks should be expecting another package of support.
The Commissioner said that many victims, particularly those that received cash and food in camps, had returned home, contrary to the claims that they were forced to leave the camps.
He said that nobody was forced to leave the camp or compelled to stay, if they felt like going home, given that the flood water had receded in most areas of the city.
He said that the government intended to merge some camps.
“About 40 percent of the camps are schools, so we want to merge some by moving those occupying the schools to other depopulated camps to enable the students to resume school,” he said.
Tar also spoke about many victims that refused to go to camp, but resorted to sleeping in the streets, filling stations and people’s business premises.
He said that the government had started registering and giving them support and would convince them to move to the camps.
He said that those on Baga Road would be encouraged to go to Gubio camp, while those in Custom area and Bama Road would be encouraged to go to Muna and Dalori camps respectively.
Tar called for patience and support for government and other partners engaged in various interventions to ameliorate the sufferings of the victims.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that organisations, groups and individuals have continued to donate funds to the State Government and one million victims of the September 10 flood that destroyed thousands of buildings in Maiduguri
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See Photos of World’s Tallest and Shortest Women Meet for Afternoon Tea in London
The world’s tallest woman and the world’s shortest woman met for the first time this week, sipping tea from china cups — and bonding over what they have in common while celebrating their differences.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Rumeysa Gelgi, from Turkey, stands at 7 feet and 0.7 inches, while Jyoti Amge, from India, is 2 feet and 0.7 inches.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
“You’re so beautiful,” said Gelgi, 27. “Thank you — you too,” replied Amge, 30.
Their meeting, over afternoon tea at London’s Savoy Hotel on Tuesday, came ahead of Guinness World Records Day, which is held annually in November to mark record-breaking achievements and encourage people to attempt records. The pair have been honored as “World Record icons” in the 70th anniversary edition of the Guinness World Records book.
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“Meeting Jyoti for the first time was wonderful,” Gelgi said in a release Wednesday. “She’s the most gorgeous lady. I was waiting to meet her for a long time.”
Gelgi said the pair bonded over their love for makeup, jewelry and doing their nails.
Video footage showed them sitting down for tea, cakes and sandwiches stacked next to them, with the London Eye visible from the window.
Amge said in the release that she was “so happy to look up” and see the world’s tallest woman, whom she called “good-natured.” She added that it was difficult at times for the pair to make eye contact “due to our height difference.”
“Guinness World Records is all about celebrating differences,” its editor in chief, Craig Glenday, said in a statement ahead of Guinness World Record Day, which is on Thursday.
“By bringing together these two amazing, iconic women, they can share their perspectives on life with each other and, also, with us,” Glenday said.
Gelgi’s record-breaking height is due to a rare genetic condition called Weaver syndrome, which causes rapid growth, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
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The primary symptom is growth and bone development that occurs faster than usual, making those affected taller than average. People with Weaver syndrome may have rigid muscles and difficulty extending their elbows or knees.
Gelgi used a walking aid for support during the pair’s meeting. Her case of Weaver syndrome was the 27th ever diagnosed and the first in Turkey, according to Guinness World Records.
Weaver syndrome is generally caused by changes in the EZH2 gene, according to the NORD, though the organization notes that some people with Weaver syndrome do not have a mutation in the gene.
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Amge, an actor who played the character of Ma Petite in the television series “American Horror Story,” has a genetic growth disorder that occurs in the early stages of fetal development, known as achondroplasia.
According to Johns Hopkins, the condition causes shorter bones, abnormally shaped bones and shorter stature. While the genetic defect can be passed from parent to child, in about 80 percent of cases, achondroplasia results from a spontaneous mutation that occurs in the developing embryo.
On Thursday, Gelgi shared photos on Instagram of the two exploring London despite the cold weather, posing side by side in front of Tower Bridge.
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