Lagos: NIGERIA’S large scale floods that have been declared a state of national disaster have affected close to two million people, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.
Following heavy rains that began in August, the country’s two main rivers, the Niger and the Benue, burst their banks, leaving the country exposed to large-scale floods ever since.
A state of national disaster has been declared in the four most-affected states of Kogi, Niger, Anambra and Delta.
The Government of Nigeria announced that to date, some 200 people have died, a further 1,310 injured, and some two million people have been directly affected.
Humanitarian partners continue to step up their response efforts to provide life-saving assistance, especially basic medical care, which is critical to prevent disastrous epidemics.
UN secretary general spokesperson, Stephne Dujarric said: “More than half a million people have been internally displaced and over 350,000 are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance.
“The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.”
