US Commits Additional $5m To Boost Flood Response Efforts

The United States Government has released additional $5million in humanitarian assistance to support people affected by unprecedented flooding in Nigeria.
Making the announcement, yesterday, in Abuja, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), said the money was to build on USAID’s initial support of $1million in life-saving aid provided following the devastating floods.
The US Mission in Nigeria made this known in a statement made available to The Tide, in Port Harcourt.
According to the statement, “The unusually heavy rainfall and resulting flooding in mid-August affected more than 4.4million people across the country.
“The floods displaced at least 2.4million people, destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes, and damaged more than 1.6million acres of farmland. More than 660 people lost their lives.
“With this new funding, USAID partners will reach more than 225,000 people in seven highly affected states with critical aid, including emergency shelter, water and sanitation to protect against water borne diseases, hygiene kits to promote safe and healthy practices, multipurpose cash for families to purchase what they need to recover, and other complementary assistance to promote economic recovery in communities impacted by the devastating floods”.
The statement quoted the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard at a ceremony to announce the release of the fund, as saying, “The United States will continue standing with the people of Nigeria during this extremely difficult time and maintains a long history of providing humanitarian assistance across the country”.
The Tide learnt that in fiscal year 2022 alone, the United States provided more than $406million in lifesaving, multi-sector assistance to people most affected by conflict and food insecurity.

By: Nelson Chukwudi