3.2million Nigerians affected by flood, 1.4million displaced – UN

The United Nations has said the number of people affected by the flooding in Nigeria has risen to over 3.2 million, while over 1.4 million have been displaced.

This is as the UN said the recent flooding that ravaged 34 states in the country was capable of increasing waterborne diseases in the affected states.

It added that 4.1 million people are at risk of experiencing severe food insecurity, and 1.74 million children under 5 are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2022.

These were contained in the Nigerian Situation Report released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Friday.

“The number of people affected by widespread flooding across Nigeria has risen to over 3.2 million, with over 600 fatalities. Over 1.4 million people are displaced.

“14,000 people have been affected by cholera in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States since January, with 443 deaths.

“Recent flooding increases the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera. 4.1 million people face severe food insecurity this lean season, and 1.74 million children under 5 are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year.

“Nigeria is experiencing the worst flooding the country has seen in a decade. More than 3.2 million people have been affected,” the report stated.

The international organisation also said the flooding might fuel food insecurity in the country, adding that over 569,000 hectares of farmland were destroyed or damaged.

The report added, “The flooding has impacted 34 of Nigeria’s 36 states. The flooding is projected to have a devastating impact on food security. In a country where 19.5 million people are facing severe food insecurity, over 569,000 hectares of farmland have been destroyed or damaged ahead of the October harvest season. The damage to staple foods such as cassava, rice, and plantain among other crops has taken away both essential food sources and important means of livelihood. “

The organisation, however, said vulnerable people would need immediate humanitarian assistance to survive as the waters recede.

Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has donated N40m to persons displaced by floods in Edo State.

The flood affected about 32,893 persons in Etsako Central, Etsako East, and Esan South East local government areas of the state.

Former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, presented the money on Tinubu’s behalf at the IDP camp at Oghomere Community in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State, saying Tinubu, who is running for president under the APC, said I should relate his message to the people affected by the flood in Edo to cushion the impact of the flood on them.

He said, “Tinubu wanted to come by himself the other time, but the helicopters he wanted to use had problems and couldn’t come. But because of the need to help people affected by the flood in the state, he said I should donate N40 million to them.”

GOGAN TV