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OCHA: Flooding affects over 7.7 million people in Nigeria
12.11.2012 08:02 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
Humanitarian agencies in Nigeria are appealing for $38 million to respond to widespread flooding in Nigeria which has affected over 7.7 million people.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says over two million people have been driven out of their homes by rising waters of the River Niger, UN Radio reports.
The bulk of the funding will go to support the restoration of water, sanitation and hygiene services.
OCHA says there is a high risk of outbreaks of epidemics as people have very limited access to clean water and sanitation.
A survey conducted by UNICEF in the affected regions indicates that most of the displaced people are getting their drinking water from ponds, streams and unprotected wells.
Jens Laerke from OCHA says there is also a risk of food insecurity due to the destruction of farmlands and fishing areas.
«The response plan is for $38 million. It targets 2.1 million people who are in need of assistance in a number of humanitarian sectors such as water and sanitation, food shelter material and non-food items such as mosquito nets and kitchen sets. The majority of those displaced are living with host communities, some are in camp like settlements. Many are in public buildings such as schools. All those millions of people who have been affected are mainly from farming and fishing communities along the river and they have seen either their farmlands completely inundated, they have been their fishing equipment nets etc washed away. So they have been robbed off their livelihood,» emphasizes Mr. Laerke.
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