SCI bemoans 75,000 children safety over torrential flood in Niger, Nigeria
Save the Children in Niger and Nigeria, has bemoaned the effects of deadly flood in the two countries which has affected over 150,000 people, out of which 75,000 children are in jeopardy.
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The effect our Correspondent reports was a result of torrential rain which is expected to continue in southern Niger and northern Nigeria until end of September, which could lead to further loss of homes, crops and livestock.
The organisation disclosed that since early July, intense rainfall has affected communities along the Niger-Nigeria border, triggering flooding which has washed away or damaged at least 14,900 homes. Most of the displaced families have been forced to shelter in schools, abandoned buildings, makeshift tents, or with distant family members, some leaving all of their belongings behind.
Our correspondent reports that flooding has wreaked havoc in Niger’s Maradi, Zinder, Tillaberi and Tahoua regions, and in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states in Nigeria. More than 100,000 people have been affected in Niger alone.
However, Save the Children in Niger and Nigeria is providing families with shelter, hygiene products, dignity kits, cooking utensils, drinking water containers, enriched flour for children aged six months to 2 years old, and cash transfers to assist with their most basic needs.
According to Ilaria Manunza, Save the Children’s Country Director in Niger, families are overwhelmed by the severe flooding.
Manunza said, “Many of them have never seen such devastation from the rain before. In the middle of the planting season, their already reduced food rations, livelihood assets, livestock, and farmland have been damaged. Families who have been forced to leave their usual living, have to change their habits, their environment and adapt to new living conditions.
“Flooded areas or lack of clean water can lead to the development of diseases such as cholera, malaria, or dengue fever. Niger has many children affected by malnutrition. It is also known that malnourished children are already very fragile and likely to easily catch these diseases, which weaken them and contribute to an increase in under-five deaths.”
Also speaking, Famari Barro, Save the Children’s Country Director in Nigeria, called for support for those affected especially children.
“It is important that assistance is provided to those affected people and particularly to children, who are always most vulnerable at times of crisis. Children need a stable environment, and we need to ensure that children can return to school in the coming days. It is important that classrooms are available and safe for children and that families can return safely to their homes.
“Without immediate support, the situation could deteriorate in the coming weeks as people could face multiple crises with the peak of the lean season and significant displacement could still occur with negative coping mechanisms such as child begging or sex for money. To date, the humanitarian response plan for Nigeria for 2022 has only been 37% funded. The worst is probably not over, we must act and develop prevention measures,” Barro said.
