Severe flooding across West and Central Africa has hit an estimated 4 million people so far this year, many of them children, displacing at least 500,000 people and destroying more than 300,000 homes. The flooding ranges from Liberia to Nigeria and across Mali, Niger and Chad, with central Africa also affected.
With ongoing cholera epidemics in the region, the risks of increased waterborne diseases affecting children is high. In Northeast Nigeria, a burst dam has added further to displacement, affecting up to 200,000 people. UNICEF has been responding to help children and families in the areas that have been hardest hit:
In Nigeria, UNICEF is rapidly deploying pre-positioned health and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) supplies to flood hit areas and is working with local authorities to register 5,000 households for emergency cash distributions.
In Chad, UNICEF reacted within the first 48 hours of the flooding to build latrines for 2,200 people and rehabilitate water points for 3,000 people.
In Mali, UNICEF has delivered emergency household and sanitary items, deployed mobile health clinics, set-up child friendly spaces and increased community messaging around hygiene and sanitation.
In Niger, UNICEF is distributing malaria kits to cover the needs of 22,000 people, as well as water treatment supplies, 900,000 bars of soap and essential household items, and building 150 emergency latrines.
You can support UNICEF’s response to reach the most vulnerable children and families impacted by floods throughout the region.
