By Ezekiel David
The United States’s USAID has pledged over $6.5 million in humanitarian aid to Nigeria following devastating floods.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and other regional partners will receive support in their nationwide flood response operations from USAID, thanks to monies included in the organization’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget.
USAID’s mission goes beyond providing emergency disaster assistance. The organisation has allotted around $100 million for the current fiscal year to meet Nigeria’s humanitarian needs, particularly those resulting from more natural disasters.
“The United States remains committed to supporting the people of Nigeria as they face the challenges posed by climate change and increasingly frequent natural disasters,” stated USAID Mission Director Melissa Jones. “Our enduring partnership is rooted in a long history of delivering humanitarian aid across the nation.”
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported that the floods in Nigeria in 2022 caused considerable damage, ranging from $3.79 billion to $9.12 billion, and tragically claimed hundreds of lives.
Recent floods have damaged over 16,488 hectares of farmland and over 32,000 houses, impacting approximately 227,000 people, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Government officials have highlighted the vulnerability of Nigeria’s agricultural sector to flooding. Sen. Abdullahi Sabi Aliyu, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, warned that up to 51% of farming areas are at risk in 2024. Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, acknowledged the impact of the floods on this year’s anticipated harvest.
The World Bank estimates that Nigeria needs $2.4 billion, roughly 0.6% of its GDP, to protect households from falling into poverty due to climate shocks.
(Source: Nairametrics)
