The United Nations on Thursday called on the international community to support Nigeria as it faces unprecedented floods, which have impacted more than three million people.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric disclosed that the humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, had appealed for assistance.

“More than 100,000 hectares of farms have been flooded, damaging staple food crops such as cassava, rice, and plantain. This will aggravate the already alarming food and nutrition crisis across Nigeria. As floodwaters slowly recede, the priority is to help people to get back to what is left of their homes and regain lost assets and livelihoods,” stated the UN official.

He explained that the UN was “working together with the government, doing the best we can to provide aid, but additional funding is needed.

Similarly, Dujarric said Niger was also facing severe flooding, where heavy rains are continuing to claim lives and wreak havoc on homes and infrastructure.”

He added that over “330,000 men, women and children are now impacted by floods in all eight regions of the country.”

Since the rain started in July, 195 people have died, more than 200 people wounded, and over 36,000 destroyed, he said.

According to him, the southern regions of Zinder and Maradi have been hit particularly hard, with entire neighbourhoods submerged. He said the agriculture sector throughout the country was also impacted.

“We, along with our humanitarian colleagues, are providing support to the government, delivering essential items. The 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan for Niger is looking for 552 million dollars; it is only 42 per cent funded,’’ he added.

(NAN)