The United Nations (UN) has allocated $6 million to Borno state from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund, as part of efforts to cushion the impact of the recent flooding incidents on victims, and this amounts to N9.8 billion with the present exchange rate of N1,639 to 1 US dollar.
Penpushing reports that the National Information Officer of United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Dr Seyi Soremekun made this known in a press statement, explaining that the world body Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, assured that more funding is on the way to bring the total contribution to more than $8 million.
The statement added Fall made the announcement of the allocation when he led officials of the United Nations (UN) and Non-Governmental Organisations on a visit to the conflict-ridden Borno State where he met with the government officials and the victims of the flooding.
Penpushing further reports that Fall accompanied by groups which include the Nigeria Red Cross Society, stated that the funding is necessitated by the urgent need to save lives, even as the organisations pledged immediate support for the affected population.
The statement added that Fall disclosed that the global agency is equally responding to the crisis by providing hot meals, facilitating food airdrops in hard-to-reach areas cut off by flood waters, trucking water and providing water and sanitation hygiene services.
Penpushing also reports that he stated that the United Nations (UN) has provided water purification tablets to stem outbreaks of diseases, such as acute watery diarrhoea and cholera, and in similar vein providing hygiene kits for women and girls, and shelter services.
The statement explained that the United Nations (UN) promised continuous provision of aid and the mobilisation of additional resources to provide life assistance to persons affected by the flood, pointing out that the widespread impact of the floods in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere local government area requires immediate response by the world body and partners in support of government efforts.
“I witnessed firsthand the devastation and untold hardship caused by the flooding, including the destruction of homes, businesses, and infrastructure. I also saw the suffering of affected communities. The flood-affected people are experiencing a crisis within a crisis with the floods occurring at the height of a severe food insecurity and malnutrition crisis’, he said
Penpushing reports that in similar development the World Health Orgaanisation(WHO) has deployed four mobile clinics to Internally Displaced Persons(IDP) camps with provision of essential medicines and medical supplies, including Interagency Emergency Health Kits (IEHKs) and malaria treatments, as part of its immediate response.
The Representative of World Health Organisation(WHO) in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, made this known stating that the organisation is working to enhance the state’s capacity to rapidly detect and respond to disease outbreaks within the camps
Penpushing further reports that he pledged the World Health Organisation’s support to the affected victims and expressed deep concern over the impact of the disaster on the lives of the affected population, especially the most vulnerable which include women, children and the elderly.
The Representative of World Health Organisation(WHO) in Nigeria affirmed that the world body would continue to provide critical technical and operational support to mitigate the health impacts of the floods.
‘We are shocked by the scale of the disaster, but we are here to assess the needs and support both the state and federal governments in addressing the challenges posed by this sudden emergency,” he emphasised.
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