The United States has pledged an additional $5 million in humanitarian aid to Nigeria’s flood relief efforts.
According to a statement issued by the US Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria in Abuja (USAID), the amount was granted through the United States Agency for International Development. The humanitarian assistance is also intended to help those affected by catastrophic flooding in Nigeria.
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“Today’s announcement builds on USAID’s initial support of $1 million in life-saving aid provided following the devastating floods,” the statement read. “The unusually heavy rainfall and resulting flooding in mid-August affected more than 4.4 million people across the country. The floods displaced at least 2.4 million people, destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes and damaged more than 1.6 million 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 waterborne 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.
So far, the US has given more than $406 million in lifesaving, multi-sector assistance to Nigerians most affected by conflict and food insecurity in the fiscal year 2022 alone.
Reacting to the development, US Ambassador to Nigeria Mary Beth Leonard said that the US will continue to stand with the people of Nigeria during this extraordinarily difficult time as the country has a long history of delivering humanitarian assistance across the country.
This story was adapted from The Sun.
