$200 Million Needed To Combat Flooding In Borno, Others – Kalu

$200 Million Needed To Combat Flooding In Borno, Others – Kalu

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said that the humanitarian impact of the flooding in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States requires about $200m to tackle.

Addressing the special session of the ongoing 12th Annual Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments at the Pan-African Parliament of the African Union (AU) in Midrand, South Africa on Thursday, Kalu said that over one million persons were displaced in one of the State by the natural disaster with tens of thousands of families without shelter, food, water and access to healthcare.

Kalu who is leading the Nigerian delegation to the conference told participants that the tragedy has greatly affected the economy and the infrastructures of the states and the country at large.

He therefore called on the African Union and other international organizations to assist Nigeria in solving the humanitarian crisis.

In a statement issued by Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Kalu said, “The estimated cost of the humanitarian response for this flood impact is about $200m. This is needed to be able to bring the place back to shape.

“It is obvious that across the length and breadth of our continent, the losses suffered from climate change are unquantifiable but the loss of lives is hard to bear.

“Whether it is in Nigeria, Mali and so on, you see our brothers and sisters weeping for the dead, lost through the consequences of climate change.

“This presentation highlights what we are going through in real terms on climate change. We are experiencing the impact of climate change all across the world and Africa is not left out.

“Nigeria recently witnessed climate change-induced flooding that affected Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. This humanitarian crisis has dealt a heavy blow on our infrastructure and our economy.”

He added that from August to September, the rainfalls and subsequent bridge of major dams caused severe flooding causing widespread destruction in communities facing social and economic challenges.

“This particular flood has displaced over one million people in one state, and tens of thousands of families without shelter, food, water, and access to healthcare,” Kalu stated.

He listed the negative impact of climate change including job losses and poor agricultural yields.

He said, “One of the consequences of climate change is job losses, in addition to the agricultural losses. This has crippled local businesses within these areas.

“There is also infrastructure destruction including key roads and bridges. Impact on education is huge because most of the centres are being used as Internally Displaced  centres to house displaced people.”