Flood: Germany provides €24m for emergency response in Sahel, Lake Chad

The Federal Government of Germany has disclosed that it has released an additional regional contribution of €24 million to its humanitarian assistance in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin region to support people affected by the severe flood disasters.

A statement released by the Germany embassy in Nigeria by the Head of the Political and Press Section, Matthias Dold, disclosed that the Federal Government of Germany has been active in the region for many years and stands firmly alongside affected people and communities in need and it is taking up its responsibility as one of the largest humanitarian donors.

The statement also noted that, with this considerable assistance, Germany stands by Nigeria and other African countries’ side in these times of need.

“Helping people in need and maintaining dignified living conditions is an inherent part of Germany’s foreign policy values.

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“Since the flooding meets an already ongoing food and nutrition crisis and destroyed thousands of hectares of cropland, tackling food insecurity is one of the priorities of the flood response.

“In Nigeria’s northeastern BAY states alone, five million people are currently facing critical food insecurity on a daily basis.”

“Through the German additional funding, the World Food Programme (WFP) has boosted its nutrition interventions by providing cash assistance to vulnerable families or setting up food kitchens in Maiduguri.

“The UN’s Refugee Agency (UNHCR) extends its complementary initiatives to support the most vulnerable, like single parents or persons with disabilities who lost their home and belongings.”

“The German funding helps to provide e. g. shelter, blankets and tarpaulins.

“While the additional funding enables organizations to do more in the current multiple humanitarian crises, ongoing projects of German partners like Malteser International have also delivered highly needed water and sanitation infrastructure from day one.

“In addition to its regional approach, Germany has stepped up its support to the Nigerian Humanitarian Fund (NHF) by further 2.15 Mio. EUR emphasizing its longstanding support as a major donor to the country-based pooled fund.”

“The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Annett Günther, said, “The NHF supplies life-saving assistance without delay and is one of Germany’s strategic instruments to reach those Nigerians in need.

“It provides swift and effective humanitarian assistance highly needed in the ongoing emergency and natural disaster like the current flooding.”

“The total German humanitarian assistance in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin region amounts to 100 Mio. EUR (~ 185 billion Naira) in 2024 so far.

“Apart from humanitarian assistance, Germany has supported the Lake Chad Region with numerous different programmes worth hundreds of millions of Euros, both in development cooperation as well as in stabilization efforts.

“One notable programme is the Regional Stabilisation Facility that aims at bringing back security and basic state services to communities affected by the terrorist insurgency.”

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE