The U.S. announced it would give $1 million through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to help and support the flood victims in Nigeria.
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- Few Flooded areas
Nearly 2.8 million people nationwide have been affected by the unusually heavy rain and flooding that followed. In addition, many homes have been damaged or completely destroyed, displacing millions of people.
The flooding in Nigeria has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation, according to a statement from the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja. Millions of people have been displaced from their homes due to ongoing conflict, particularly in the northern region. Due to the rising global food crisis, it is anticipated that more than 4 million people in the same area will continue to experience severe food insecurity.
“We are also concerned 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 and at least 7,750 cases were recorded. In 2022, 31 out of 36 states reported cholera cases.”
In response to the news, Mary Beth Leonard, the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, said:
“We are filled with compassion for the flood victims who have lost so much—lives, homes, and even loved ones.
The $1 million in USAID funding will enable regional partners on the ground to offer emergency shelter support, relief supplies, hygiene kits to encourage safe and healthy practices amid the ongoing cholera outbreak, and multipurpose cash assistance for those affected by the devastating floods.