Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) alocated:
N/A
The Federation's mission is to improve
the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity.
It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of
volunteers are active in over 180 countries. For more information:
www.ifrc.org
In Brief
This document is being issued for information only. The Federation is not seeking any funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time.
The Situation
In what is considered to be the worst flooding in northern Nigeria in more than two decades, heavy seasonal rains over the last two weeks have caused serious flooding in Kaduna State . Thousands of people have reportedly been forced to flee their homes (initial reports indicate some 3,600 are homeless) as the Kaduna River overflowed its banks on Sunday (7 September). T here is reportedly extensive damage to basic infrastructure (roads, bridges, and electrical installations) throughout the affected area.
The Government is responding by organizing the immediate delivery of relief assistance to those affected, and has undertaken an assessment of the area, assisted by the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), local officials, and other relief agencies. Many of the areas affected remain cut off or are difficult to access.
While the level of the Kaduna River has begun to descend and the situation is slowly returning to normal, the weather conditions which have caused the heavy rains are regional in nature (responsible in large measure as well for the flooding in other west African countries), and further rains could cause a re-occurrence of floods. If this does happen, there is a significant concern that a cholera outbreak could occur.
Red Cross and Red Crescent action
The NRCS has considerable experience and capacity responding to disasters, and has put this to effective use in the current floods response operation. Some seventy volunteers are assisting the NRCS. The Federation's Head of Delegation is coordinating with the NRCS Secretary General, and is liaising with Save the Children. The NRCS is conducting an assessment in outlying areas, which will result in a revised figure of the total number of persons affected, and a clearer idea of basic needs.In this regard, two senior NRCS staff persons have been deployed to assist the operation. Further information will be made available shortly.
The current needs are being met with locally available stocks, and at this point the NRCS have indicated that external assistance, including an appeal, is not required. The Federation is prepared to respond flexibly in Nigeria if the conditions worsen, as well as in other countries in West Africa, as the situation requires.
For a full description oft he National Society profile, see www.ifrc.org
For further details please contact:
- George Bennet, Head of Delegation; email: ifrcng02@ifrc.org
- Nigerian Red Cross Society; phone: (234) (1) 7738955; Fax: (234) (1) 2691599; E-Mail: nrcs@wananet.net Web: www.nigerianredcross.org
- Martin Zak, Operations Manager, Phone 41 22 730 4551; e mail: martin.zak@ifrc.org
All International Federation Operations seek to adhere to the Code of Conduct and are committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.
For support to or for further information concerning Federation operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org
For longer-term programmes, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal.