The European Union (EU) has announced a significant humanitarian aid package of €5.4 million to assist Nigeria and five other Sahel nations grappling with the devastating effects of severe flooding.
The countries benefiting from the support include Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Mali, and Burkina Faso, with over 4.4 million people estimated to be affected by the natural disaster.
In a statement released on Monday, the EU outlined the distribution of funds among the affected countries.
Nigeria will receive €1.1 million, while Niger is allocated €1.35 million. Chad, Mali, Cameroon, and Burkina Faso will receive €1 million, €1 million, €650,000, and €300,000 respectively.
The EU said the funding aims to address urgent needs for food, shelter, and access to clean water and sanitation in the most severely impacted areas.
The EU’s commitment comes in addition to the €232 million in humanitarian assistance already allocated to the countries this year.
The bloc’s aid is crucial as it addresses the immediate consequences of the floods, which have destroyed homes, schools, roads, and public health facilities, exacerbating the plight of millions in the region.
The floods, attributed to excessive rainfall, have wreaked havoc across the Sahel and Lake Chad regions, causing unprecedented displacement and suffering. Many families have lost their homes and livelihoods, leading to urgent humanitarian needs.
The EU has expressed its concern over the scale of destruction, emphasizing the necessity of prompt intervention to mitigate the suffering of the affected populations.
Janez Lenarčič, the EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, remarked on the severity of the situation, stating, “Excessive rainfalls have lashed the Sahel and Lake Chad regions with unprecedented impact, displacing millions and causing widespread suffering and damage.
We are mobilizing all means at our disposal to help the most vulnerable in the flood-stricken countries so they can receive much-needed relief.”
He stated that the EU’s aid not only addresses immediate needs but also reflects a broader commitment to support resilience and recovery efforts in the affected regions.
He added that the aid package highlights the EU’s dedication to humanitarian assistance and its role in fostering regional stability amid increasing environmental challenges.
Meanwhile, more than three million children in Borno State, Northeast Nigeria, have been left without access to education as schools are closed indefinitely following the worst floods in the region in over 30 years, Save the Children reports.
The crisis has heightened concerns about child marriage, child labour, and other protection risks as displaced families struggle to cope with the aftermath.
The catastrophic floods, which submerged large parts of Maiduguri, have displaced over 400,000 people, forcing tens of thousands of children into overcrowded displacement camps and school buildings that were spared from the destruction.
