The International Organization for Migration has announced that it will be allocating over $1.8 million to assist those impacted by floods in Nigeria.
This financial support, as mentioned in a statement released on Monday, will enable various local and international non-governmental organizations to provide urgent humanitarian aid to more than 180,000 individuals in Borno, Benue, Adamawa, and Yobe States.
The Chief of Mission (ad interim) for IOM Nigeria, Paola Pace, emphasized the crucial nature of this assistance, stating,
“The extensive flooding occurring this year has had devastating effects on numerous communities, leading to the displacement of families and major disruptions in people’s lives.
Our immediate focus is on ensuring that those affected receive prompt relief and assistance, with access to essential services and resources necessary to help them reconstruct their lives.”
Through the implementation of the Rapid Response Fund (RRF), the organization aims to offer support such as shelter, essential items, cash aid, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services to alleviate the immediate suffering of those affected and aid in their swift recovery.
The RRF serves as a means to swiftly deliver humanitarian aid to communities during crises induced by both natural and man-made disasters.
IOM disclosed that the RRF initiative is operational throughout Nigeria, extending grants to national and international non-governmental organizations to facilitate expedited access to funds for critical life-saving interventions.
The first round of allocations, totaling $1,861,189.224, for flood response initiatives commenced in August 2024 and were distributed to organizations like Salient Humanitarian Organization, Solidarités International, Wadata Relief Care Initiative, Grassroots Life Saving Outreach, Sheriff Aid Foundation, Global Village Healthcare Initiative for Africa, Center for Advocacy, Transparency, and Accountability Initiative, GOALPrime Organization Nigeria, and Care Aid Support Initiative.
“The funding complements existing allocations including from the Central Emergency Response Fund and the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund, and will further contribute to strengthening protection services, including community-based protection services for children and women, prevention and response to gender-based violence in some of the targeted areas.
“More than 1.2 million people have been affected by floods across Nigeria this year, most of them in Borno State which has been the epicentre of a protracted humanitarian crisis. The floods have created unprecedented destruction, reportedly killing 300 people, destroying hectares of land and forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes in search of safety,” it stated.
