The European Union has provided about €5.4 million to the countries of the Sahel and Lake Chad where an estimated 4.4 million people are believed to be affected by flooding events.
Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso are currently experiencing devastating flooding which has led to the destruction of houses, public health facilities, water systems, schools and sanitation facilities as well as roads, infrastructures, and agricultural areas.
More than 4.4 million people are estimated to be affected in the six countries.
Moreover, the lack of access to water, hygiene, and sanitation services is increasing the risk of spreading of waterborne diseases.
According to the European Union in a Statement, ‘the funding will help our humanitarian partners on the ground to provide immediate aid and respond to the most urgent needs concerning food, shelter, access to clean water and sanitation and other essential services in the hardest-hit areas.’
The amount will be distributed as follows:
Chad €1,000,000; Niger €1,350,000; Nigeria €1,100,000; Mali € 1,000,000; Cameroon €650,000
Burkina Faso €300,000
The funding comes in addition to €232 million in humanitarian assistance already allocated to these countries so far this year.
In addition, the EU and its partners had already responded to the immediate consequences of floods in Liberia, Guinea, Chad, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Mali, through timely adjustments to ongoing actions and/or contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management, said: “Excessive rainfalls have lashed the Sahel and Lake Chad regions with unprecedented impact, displacing millions and causing widespread suffering and damage.
“We are mobilising all means at our disposal to help the most vulnerable in the flood-stricken countries, so they can receive much needed relief.”
