European Union (EU) has released €5.4 million in humanitarian aid to help the most affected populations in the devastating floods in Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
According to reports, more than 4.4 million people are estimated to be affected in the six countries, as floods have led to the destruction of houses, public health facilities, water systems, schools, sanitation facilities, infrastructures, and agricultural areas.
The EU expressed fears that the floods, coupled with the lack of access to water, hygiene and sanitation services throughout the region, could lead to increased risk of cholera, especially in the cholera endemic areas.
The union stated that the funding was aimed at helping its humanitarian partners on the ground to provide immediate aid and respond to the most urgent needs concerning food, shelter, access to clean water and sanitation and other essential services in the hardest-hit areas.
According to the EU, the money will be distributed as follows: Chad, €1,000,000; Niger, €1,350,000; Nigeria, €1,100,000; Mali, €1,000,000); Cameroon, €650,000 and Burkina Faso, €300,000.
“We are mobilising all means at our disposal to help the most vulnerable in the flood-stricken countries, so they can receive much needed relief,” Commissioner for Crisis Management,” Janez Lenarčič, said.
Several areas have been impacted harder in recent floods than during previous flooding events.
In Nigeria, the Northern regions, already impacted by a severe food and nutrition crisis driven by conflict, insecurity and high inflation, are among the hardest hit and the failure of a dam in the Maiduguri area has severely worsened the situation.
Approximately, 641,600 people are now estimated to be displaced and more heavy rainfall is forecast.
MEANWHILE, the United States Agency for International Development has provided assistance to the victims of the Maiduguri flood through United Nations agencies and its implementing partners.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is using an initial $3 million in USAID funding to address flood needs across the country.
This was disclosed in a statement by the U.S. government and made available to journalists, yesterday.
It said that through the World Food Programme (WFP), USAID was providing hot meal rations in four camps hosting internally displaced persons and has reached more than 67,000 individuals in the past few days.
The statement also noted that the WFP was also providing emergency nutrition assistance to pregnant and lactating women, including children under five years old.
