U.S. commits $1m for immediate assistance to support people affected by flooding in Nigeria

The United States through its humanitarian agency has pledged $1 million to assist Nigeria in providing support to people affected by floods.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) made this known in a statement on Thursday.

The agency said the recent floods have made the already critical situations of conflict and food insecurity worse, adding that it could also lead to a major health crisis.

“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 statement reads.

The unusually heavy rainfall and resulting flooding have affected nearly 2.8 million people across the country. In addition, many homes have been damaged or completely destroyed, displacing millions of people.

“The floods have exacerbated an already critical humanitarian situation in Nigeria, where ongoing conflict, especially in the northern region, has driven millions of people from their homes. In the same region, more than 4 million people are projected to continue experiencing acute food insecurity amid the worsening global food crisis.

“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.

The $1 million in new USAID support will allow local partners on the ground to provide emergency shelter assistance, relief commodities, and hygiene kits to promote safe and healthy practices amid the ongoing cholera outbreak, and multipurpose cash assistance for people impacted by the devastating floods.

“As experts expect heavy rainfall and flooding to continue through November, due in part to climate change and insufficient drainage infrastructure, USAID disaster experts will continue monitoring the situation in close coordination with humanitarian partners and the Government of Nigeria to assess needs and determine if additional assistance is required.”

Mary Beth Leonard, US ambassador to Nigeria, was quoted as saying: “We are filled with grief for the flood victims who have lost so much – livelihoods, homes, and even loved ones. The United States continues to stand with the people of Nigeria during this extremely difficult time.”