By Omonu YG Nelson
The European Union has stepped in to provide critical support to the Sahel and Lake Chad regions, which have been devastated by recent floods.
A humanitarian aid package of €5.4 million has been released to assist the most affected populations in Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
This funding will help address the urgent needs of over 4.4 million people impacted by the floods, including food, shelter, access to clean water, sanitation, and other essential services.
The breakdown of the funding is as follows:
– __Chad__: €1,000,000
– __Niger__: €1,350,000
– __Nigeria__: €1,100,000
– __Mali__: €1,000,000
– __Cameroon__: €650,000
– __Burkina Faso__: €300,000
According to Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management, “Excessive rainfalls have lashed the Sahel and Lake Chad regions with unprecedented impact, displacing millions and causing widespread suffering and damage. 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.”
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The floods have had a devastating impact on the region, destroying houses, public health facilities, water systems, schools, and sanitation facilities, as well as roads, infrastructure, and agricultural areas.
The lack of access to water, hygiene, and sanitation services has increased the risk of waterborne diseases. In Nigeria alone, approximately 641,600 people are estimated to be displaced, with more heavy rainfall forecasted.
This funding comes in addition to €232 million in humanitarian assistance already allocated to these countries this year. The EU and its partners have also responded to the immediate consequences of floods in Liberia, Guinea, Chad, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Mali through adjustments to ongoing actions and contributions to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF).
It’s worth noting that this is not the first time the EU has provided humanitarian aid to the region. Earlier this year, the European Commission allocated €201 million in EU humanitarian funding to help the most vulnerable people affected by the humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Nigeria.