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Swiss govt grant $756,000 to flood victims

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By Akintola Timothy

This gesture, a response to the International Federation of Red Cross appeal.

Earlier in the month, approximately 30 out of Nigeria’s 36 states were reported to have been immensely impacted by flooding which threatened to submerge the affected communities, putting the residents’ lives and properties in disarray. Although this tragedy had been experienced before, this present flooding has been at an absolute climax this time around. Even the country’s capital, Abuja has been reportedly on watchlist as regards this rampage that has displaced hundreds of thousands of families, as well as destroying more farmlands and produces. As a result, it is widely believed that the country might be in immediate danger of a hunger situation, with the flood having overtly affected the agricultural production in the country.

Per reports, numerous persons were recorded dead and a lot more, injured as a result of the submerge. Different occurrences in states like Kogi, Anambra and Bayelsa. For instance, Anambra which was reported to have been impacted by the flood rising as high as their rooftops, many witnessed the death of a family whose boat capsized while they tried to escape the high floodwater that had ravaged the state. The national Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) earlier reported that over 600,000 people were displaced across the country, with another 300 people dead as a result of this dilemmatic situation. Since, more incidents had been recorded.

Immense social unrest predicted due to poverty rate and underemployment.

As a result of this submerge, numerous farmlands were destroyed, causing an imminent collapse of the agricultural industry in the country. As a result, the poverty rate and economic underdevelopment in the country, granting an opportunity for immense social unrest. Between 2022 and 2023, intense internal disruptions have been predicted due to the ensuing inflation and food scarcity. The increasing competition through the scarcity have also aggravated the situation.

In a bid to level and lighten the huge effect of the flood on the affected residents, the government of Switzerland has promised to commit 750,000 Swiss francs, approximately 756, 000 US Dollar in assistance of the humanitarian response to ravaging flood in the country. On the development of the flood that has submerged most states in the country, affecting the lives and properties of residents across 34 states, the Swiss administration noted that this gesture was to a response to the appeal by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

IFRC to complement government’s efforts in curbing flooding crisis.

Mr. Nicolas Lang, Switzerland’s Ambassador to Nigeria disclosed this news in Abuja, where he stated that IFRC and Red Cross Society, through this contribution will help with complementing the responses of the government in salvaging this situation. This grant will immensely contribute to the worldwide efforts that is posed at ensuring the social and economic recovery and development of these submerged communities.

He stated that the residents in these flood affected communities will be immensely provided with multi-sectoral assistance to ensure that the immediate basic needs of the people are addressed. Some of these needs are temporary shelters, rebuilding of submerged houses, provision of food and clothing for all the affected residents, delivery of cash assistance and health, shelter and sanitation facilities, so as to prevent the spread of the current cholera epidemic in these communities.

IFRC to create local-based response team in these affected areas.

Lang further noted his satisfaction in Switzerland’s aiding of Nigeria during this trying time. He added that this contribution to the flood emergency appeal of the IFRC was in line with Switzerland’s sustained collaboration with Nigeria, which included the provision of humanitarian services to crisis-affected communities. He stated that with the huge volunteering networks, as well as the collaboration with the Federal Government, the IFRC and Red Cross society would create a locally based effective response team in these affected communities.


Related Links

United Nations: Website

IMF: Website


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