IOM supports flood victims in Nigeria with $1.9 million
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has released $1.9 million (N17.5 billion) to support people affected by floods in the various states in the country.
According to the organisation, the recent floods in Maiduguri, have killed 50 people with the destruction of property, including 5, 000 hectares of farmlands.
IOM Nigeria Chief of Mission ad interim, Paola Pace, in a statement yesterday (Monday), in Maiduguri disclosed:
“The funding will enable local and international non-governmental organisations to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to over 180,000 people in Borno, Benue, Adamawa, and Yobe States.
Lamenting that; “the dramatic flooding we’re witnessing this year, has devastated countless communities, displaced families, and disrupted their lives and means of livelihoods.”
Pace noted that the priority of IOM, was to ensure immediate relief and support are provided to those affected, by ensuring that they have access to essential services.
“Resources are needed to rebuild their lives,” she said.
Additionally, the IOM boss noted that the response, channelled through the rapid response fund (RRF), comprises shelter, non-food items, multipurpose cash assistance, protection and water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
She said that the response measures; are to alleviate their immediate suffering, by facilitating their timely recovery.
Her words: “IOM funding complements existing allocations from the Central Emergency Response Fund and the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund.
“They will also contribute to strengthening protection services, including community-based protection services for children and women and prevention and response to gender-based violence in some of the targeted areas.”
According to her, over 1.2 million people have been affected by floods across Nigeria this year, particularly in Borno State, which has been the epicentre of a protracted humanitarian crisis.
On the floods’ disasters, Pace noted that it has created unprecedented destruction, reportedly killing 300 people, destroying hectares of land, and forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes in search of safety.
