THE Nigerian Red Cross Society has called for donations to provide life-saving support for families affected by flooding in Borno State.
In a press statement sent to The ICIR, the group said it had deployed disaster response teams to the area to help the victims rebuild their livelihoods.
“As part of its Maiduguri flood response and an attempt to respond to the growing humanitarian needs in the aftermath of the Maiduguri floods, the Nigerian Red Cross Society has deployed disaster response teams to Maiduguri, Nigeria.
“While in Maiduguri, the teams will engage in building temporary shelters, offering psycho-social support to people affected by floods in Damboa, Bayo, Jere, Maiduguri and helping the populace rebuild their livelihoods, the statement read.
The society’s president, Oluyemisi Adeaga, was quoted in the statement as saying the organisation needed about 2.5 million dollars to build shelters, food and a means of livelihood for victims and restore some stability to the lives of the populace affected by the flood.
He added that the organisation targeted 4,500 households with food and non-food items.
“The situation on the ground is critical, with many families struggling to survive. In the wake of this disaster, the Nigerian Red Cross is on the front lines, delivering emergency relief such as food, water, first aid and providing temporary shelter to those who have lost their homes.
“However, the scale of the disaster far exceeds the resources currently available. Our teams are working tirelessly to respond to this emergency, but we cannot do it alone. We urgently need the support of individuals, organisations, and the international community to help us reach those in desperate need. Every donation will make a difference and could save a life,” he said.
The ICIR reports that the flood crisis in Borno has left residents of the North-East state panicking after killing many, displacing thousands of people and destroying tonnes of valuables.
Several organisations have visited the state to assess the severity of the disaster while donations are still ongoing.
Earlier today, Tuesday, September 17, the United Nations (UN) said it had donated $6 million to support the victims.
On Monday, September 16, President Bola Tinubu visited the state to commiserate with the government and citizens affected by the flooding, pledging that his administration would support the victims.
A report by The ICIR explained that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) report on the 2024 annual flood outlook revealed that 33 out of 36 states in Nigeria have been predicted to experience a high risk of devastating flooding between July and September 2024.
The NIHSA said that at least 135 local government areas (LGAs) had been mapped out as vulnerable to flooding this year.
Some affected states included Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe States.