The United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing $1 million in immediate humanitarian assistance to support people affected by unprecedented flooding in Nigeria. The unusually heavy rainfall and resulting flooding affected nearly 2.8 million people across the country. In addition, tens of thousands of houses were damaged or completely destroyed, forcing the displacement of two million people. More than 600 people died.
The floods have worsened an already critical humanitarian situation in Nigeria, where the ongoing conflict, particularly in the northern region, has already driven millions of people from their homes. In the same region, more than four million people are projected to continue to experience acute food insecurity amid the worsening global food crisis. To make matters worse, we are concerned that standing flood water could also increase the risk of cholera and other water-borne diseases in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, where cholera outbreaks have been reported in August and September and at least 7,750 cases were registered. In 2022, 31 of 35 states reported cases of cholera.
Today’s $1 million in new USAID support will enable local partners on the ground to provide emergency shelter repair kits and hygiene kits to promote safe and healthy practices amid the ongoing cholera outbreak, and multipurpose cash assistance for people affected by the devastating floods.
As experts expect the heavy rain to continue until November, USAID disaster experts continue to monitor the situation in close coordination with humanitarian partners, the Government of Nigeria and the US Embassy in Abuja to assess needs and determine additional assistance needed.
The United States continues to stand with the people of Nigeria during this extremely difficult time and maintains a long history of providing humanitarian assistance throughout the country. In fiscal year 2022 alone, USAID provided more than $356 million in life-saving multi-sector assistance to people most affected by conflict and food insecurity.
For the latest updates on USAID’s humanitarian assistance in Nigeria, visit here.
