The European Union has allocated €5.4 million ($6 million) in humanitarian aid to six West and Central African countries devastated by severe flooding. The affected countries include Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
Since the rainy season began, torrential downpours have caused widespread damage and displacement in the region.According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the floods have killed over 1,500 people, affected four million, and displaced 1.2 million.
“This year’s floods are unprecedented, a stark reminder of the growing impacts of climate change in our region,” said Sylvia Ekra, IOM Regional Director for West and Central Africa.
The EU package includes €1.35 million for Niger, €1.1 million for Nigeria, €1 million each for Chad and Mali,€650,000 for Cameroon, and €350,000 for Burkina Faso. This brings the total EU humanitarian aid allocated to these countries since the beginning of the year to €232 million.
In addition to the EU’s support, the IOM has released $3 million in emergency aid to Nigeria, where nearly 650,000 people have been displaced by the floods.
The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that severe flooding in Chad has claimed 503 lives and affected around 1.7 million people. In Niger, more than a million people have been affected by the floods,forcing the postponement of the school year.
Mali has experienced its most severe rainfall since 1967, with over 180,000 people affected. In Cameroon, the floods have killed 20 people and affected more than 230,000 since the end of August.
Scientists warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as torrential rains.