Flooding: Switzerland donates $756,000 to support victims in Nigeria

The Government of Switzerland is committing over seven-hundred US dollars in aid to the Nigerian Government as humanitarian response to flood victims.

The move was in response to an emergency appeal by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), to support the humanitarian response of the devastating floods in Nigeria.

In a statement, the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Nicolas Lang, said more than three million people have been affected by the flood across 34 states, claiming at least 600 lives and displacing over 1.5 million people.

“Through this contribution, the IFRC and the Nigerian Red Cross Society will complement the efforts of the Nigerian Government to respond to the crisis. Flood-affected people in 18 states will be provided with multi-sectoral assistance to meet their immediate basic needs. This will include temporary shelter, rebuilding of houses, delivery of multipurpose cash assistance, as well as health, water and sanitation measures to prevent a further spread of the ongoing cholera outbreak”, the Swiss embassy said.

Mr Lang expressed satisfaction, saying that Switzerland is able to support Nigeria and its people to overcome this crisis.

“This contribution to the IFRC’s emergency flood appeal is fully in line with Switzerland’s longstanding and sustained collaboration with Nigeria, including on providing humanitarian assistance to crisis-affected populations.

 “With its wide network of volunteers throughout the country and close collaboration with the Government agencies coordinating the response, I am confident that the IFRC and the Nigerian Red Cross Society will provide an effective and locally-led response to the immediate needs of thousands of Nigerians whose lives have been tragically impacted by the floods”, said Ambassador Lang.