2024 Floods: ECOWAS Provides $200, 000 As Relief Assistance To Bauchi Victims
By Khalid Idris Doya
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has said that in cases such as flood disaster accompanies state governments to provide support to the affected families, communities or individuals.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray at the flood disaster intervention distribution Kirfi held in Bauchi Wednesday, said that the regional body is providing support to six local government areas of Bauchi state namely Giade, Gamawa, Zaki, Katagum, Zaki, and Kirfi.
Represented by director of Humanitarian and social affairs Dr. Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe, explained that ECOWAS is a conglomeration of 15 west African countries under the commission’s leadership of a Gambian, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray disclosing that ECOWAS is intervening with $200, 000 for the purchase of food and non-food items for the Bauchi state floods’ victims to buy their dressing needs.
Dr. Sintiki Tarfa assured of ECOWAS’s continued cooperation and collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs & Disaster Management, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian Red Cross in working together for common goals.
Also speaking, Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed recalled that in 2024, following persistent heavy rains, water levels had risen leading to severe flooding that caused significant infrastructure damage, including roads, schools, health facilities, shelter facilities and other community facilities across 16 out of 20 LGAs of the State.
“Farmlands and other sources of livelihoods were also affected leading to losses in farm produce and affecting food security. What makes the situation even worse was the fact that areas on higher ground that were hitherto unaffected by flooding become affected”, he said.
The Governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Aminu Hammayo, revealed that assessment by the State Emergency Management Agency and other supervisory authorities indicated that the floods had caused large-scale displacement of more than 30,436 households comprising over 293,300 individuals.
He added “Over 52,000 houses were destroyed or badly damaged while several hectares of farmlands were washed away. The flood had exacerbated humanitarian needs, with individuals, mainly women and children, being exposed to undignified living conditions and sleeping in open or crowded spaces, exposing them to protection and health risks. 187 casualties were at some point reported including 24 deaths”.
“We acknowledge, with a deep sense of gratitude, the efforts of the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and ECOWAS Commission for this kind gesture of providing support to victims affected by the 2024 flood in Bauchi state”
Governor Bala, “We note that 1,000 households (HHs) have been identified from the Gamawa, Zaki, Kirfi, Jama’are, Giade, and Katagum Local Government Areas of the state to benefit from the Flood Emergency Relief Project’.
“Beneficiaries from such 1,000 HHs will receive cash payments of N75,000.00 each using prepaid cards along the following food and non-food items 25 kg bag of rice; 15 kg bag of garri; 12 kg bag of beans: 5 litres of vegetable oil; 5 litres of palm oil; I blanket; 1 Mosquito Net: 1 Plastic Bucket: and 1 Jerry Can. Permit me to also place on record our acceptance to take responsibility for all the requisite logistics needed to make this event a success.”
He further revealed, “On our part, we have provided additional intervention for 150 vulnerable households to benefit from food and non-food items comprising of 1 bag of 25 kg Rice; 1 bag of 25 kg maize; 1 Carton of Spaghetti; 1 Carton of Macaroni; a Mat; a Plastic Bucket; and N75,000 in Cash. This is in addition to the various palliatives we had given since the occurrence of the incidence to various beneficiaries across the State”.
The state Minister of Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Tanko Yusuf Sununu recalled with dismay that the 2024 floods in Bauchi state left trails of destructions of putting lives, displacing families and threatening livelihood, recognising the paints and uncertainties the disasters have caused for affected individuals and families.
Represented by the Director Humanitarian Affairs of the Ministry Valentine Ezulu, the Minister explained that the federal government remained steadfast in it’s commitment to alleviate human suffering and fostering recovery for those affected by disasters, and commended the ECOWAS Commission for its generous funding support for the intervention.
Dr. Yusuf Sununu explained that the project will provide multipurpose cash assistance, food and non-food items to households, as well as water sanitation and hygiene amenities to victims and communities mostly affected by the 2024 floods in Bauchi state, pointing out that the project is engendered to impact positivity in the lives of over 1000 vulnerable persons affected by the floods in the state.
Also speaking the President – Nigerian Red Cross Society, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga noted with delight that palliation such as rice, beans, and other essential food supplies to alleviate hunger, as families also received blankets, mosquito nets, and dignity kits to protect their health and safety, in addition to cash support to empower them to meet immediate and specific needs, whether it’s repairing a home, seeking medical care, or sending a child back to school.