ICRC To Increase Humanitarian Assistances To 4 West African Countries Hit By Torrential Flood

ICRC to increase humanitarian assistances to 4 west African countries hit by torrential flood

From Umar Dankano,Yola.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC has provided more to humanitarian supports to victims of flood and humanitarian organisations across West Africa.

Disclosing the development through a press release issued by the public Relations Officer of the ICRC Abuja,Aliyu Dawobe said that the gesture was to accord succor the to hundreds of thousands of people affected by flood as a result of torrential rains in most countries in the region.

It observed that hundred of thousands people have been displaced in recent weeks as flood ravaged countries like Cameroon,Chad,Niger and Nigeria where torrential rains left hundreds dead and caused huge or massive damage.

In the release, the Director of Africa region, Patrick Youssef stated that the ICRC teams who are based in these countries usually have first hand information on human or natural disasters as well as level of damage which the Committee uses in supporting the affected Communities.

“These severe floods add a complicating layer in a region where conflict and violence already make life so fragile for thousands of families,

“Our teams see first-hand how life in vulnerable communities is made so much harder when violence and climate shocks combine.

“We can’t thank the volunteers of our Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners enough. It’s only through their commitment and professionalism that we can continue make the last mile our first priority, accessing areas where government actors, as well as other development and humanitarian organizations, sometimes cannot reach. Our teams of forensic experts continue to liaise with authorities to offer support in the dignified management of the dead.” Youssef stated

According to the release, the ICRC has partnered with the local Nigerian Red Cross Society to render humanitarian supports to more than 414,000 people affected by the Alau Dam breach in Maiduguri,Borno state in September 10th 2024 noting that the NRCS volunteers were very effective in operational activities

It further said to have donated 150 body bags to NRCS and hospitals during the search and rescue operations, medical evacuations and giving first aid, as well as reuniting families separated by floodwaters and the safe and dignified management of dead bodies.

“Their teams have retrieved 22 dead bodies to date, while 76 children have been reunited with their families. A total of 117 people were evacuated from four medical facilities affected by the rising waters.

“The ICRC has organized psychosocial support sessions for NRCS staff and volunteers who have been involved in multiple flood response activities and

will handover essential household items to affected households, including mats, blankets, tarpaulins, kitchen kits, mosquito nets, buckets, jerry cans, soap, hygiene kits and loincloths”. The release maintained.

Similar assistances were extended to republics of Niger, Cameroon, and Chad especially Communities affected by flooding where homes,farm lands, and other infrastructural facilities were destroyed in addition to opening various malaria treatment centers.