The United Kingdom Government has announced a £100 million fund to help Nigeria and other most climate-vulnerable countries tackle climate change.

It said the fund will also make health care in the countries more resilient, withstand disasters like floods, and ready to deal with spikes in infectious diseases, like cholera and malaria, due to floods caused by climate change.

Speaking at the COP28 Summit yesterday, International Development and Africa Minister Andrew Mitchell, called for bolder collective action to protect the lives, health and livelihoods of those most impacted by climate change.

The Minister said the UK Government recognised the urgency of the situation, which has forced 26 million people into poverty annually.

He said the £100m package is part of the £1.6 billion climate aid announced by Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak three days ago, adding that the Prime Minister stressed the need for ambitious, innovative and pragmatic action.

Mitchell said: “The devastating effects of climate change hit the most vulnerable the hardest.

“These funding commitments will help countries and people be better prepared and protected against extreme weather events and natural disasters. They will help roll out measures such as early warning systems, and open up access to climate finance to build resilient health services.

“The UK will continue to press for a bold and ambitious approach to support those on the frontline of our changing climate, and to create a safer planet for us all.”

On behalf of the UK, Minister Mitchell endorsed the ‘Getting Ahead of Disasters’ Charter, the ‘COP28 Declaration on Relief, Recovery and Peace’, and the ‘COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health’.

At a panel discussion on climate security convened by the UK, the event was attended by the United States, the European Union, Iraq, Kenya, Mali, NATO, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).