The United States, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing $1 million in immediate humanitarian assistance to support the people affected by unprecedented flooding in Nigeria.
The US embassy, in a statement Friday, explained that the unusual heavy rainfall, which resulted in flooding, had affected nearly 2.8 million people across the country. It added that many homes had been damaged or completely destroyed, displacing millions of persons.
The US government stressed that the $1 million in new USAID support would allow local partners on the ground to provide emergency shelter assistance, relief commodities, and hygiene kits to promote safe and healthy practices amid the on-going cholera outbreak and multipurpose cash assistance for people affected by the devastating floods.
It stated, “The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing $1 million in immediate humanitarian assistance to support the people affected by unprecedented flooding in Nigeria.”
The US government lamented that floods had exacerbated an already critical humanitarian situation in Nigeria, where on-going conflict, especially in the northern region, had driven millions of people from their homes.
The statement added, “In the same region, more than four million people are projected to continue experiencing acute food insecurity amid the worsening global food crisis.”
The US expressed concern that standing floodwaters could increase the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states, where cholera outbreaks were declared in August and September, with 7,750 cases recorded.
It stated in 2022, 31 out of 36 states reported cholera cases.
The statement quoted the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard, to have said the United States continued to stand with the people of Nigeria during this extremely difficult time.
“We are filled with grief for the flood victims who have lost so much – livelihoods, homes, and even loved ones,” Leonard said.
As experts expect heavy rainfall and flooding to continue through November, due in part to climate change and insufficient drainage infrastructure, the US government said USAID disaster experts would continue monitoring the situation in close coordination with humanitarian partners and the federal government to assess needs and determine if additional assistance is required.
It said in 2022, USAID provided more than $356 million in humanitarian assistance to people most affected by conflict and food insecurity in Nigeria.
It stressed that this life-saving assistance was in addition to USAID’s annual $539 million development budget for Nigeria that supports economic growth, health, democratic governance, and education.
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