CEM REPORT | In anticipation of high flooding in part of the country, the European Union (EU) has made the provision of €70,000 to reduce the impact and
The funds which are expected to benefit 10,000 people directly and about 25,000 more indirectly will be disbursed through the Nigerian Red Cross Society to increase capacity and preparedness to reduce the impact of likely floods in Ondo, Kogi, Kebbi, Anambra and Cross River States.
The funds which will be directed majorly to increased community awareness, prepositioning of stocks, mapping of evacuation centres and hygiene promotion, are part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies (RCS).
Flooding has become the second most recurrent hazard affecting the country, after the epidemic in the past decade.
High flooding period which has generally been witnessed from August to October, is usually characterised by the collapse of major dams, overflow of riverbanks and heavy occupation of residential areas or the environment by large masses of water due to heavy flow of run-off rainwater, uprooting and washing away of residential buildings, and blowing away roofs of buildings.
Erosion has also served as a contributor to further deterioration of the condition of the people and environment.
The Nigeria Red Cross Society has always stood in the gap to take preventive measures to prepare for the anticipated impact that flooding and other disasters could have before they occur in the country.
The EU is a signatory to a €3 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies (RCS) to support the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF).
Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF which was established in 1985.