The Federal Government of Nigeria on 17 September declared a national disaster across four states in Nigeria, most affected by the flooding (Kogi, Delta, Niger and Anambra) and is welcoming support from the international community. In response to the severe flooding, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is providing critical life-saving materials to address the need of women and girls.
UNFPA supports flood victims with over 5700 relief items for women and girls, including dignity kits for pregnant women and lactating mothers. There are also sleeping mats in temporary locations and traditional wrappers for women.
UNFPA is also assisting the Federal Ministry of Health conduct a rapid assessment - this enables the health sector to identify needs.
Since the end of August 2018, ongoing flooding has affected at least 12 states in Nigeria with rural areas being the most vulnerable.
The affected states include Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Delta, Edo, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Kwara, Rivers and Taraba. Areas located along the Niger and Benue rivers are particularly at risk, including Kogi State where the two rivers meet.
More than 100 people have been killed in recent weeks, with the latest flood alert from the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) indicating that the rising water levels of Niger and Benue rivers will cause severe flooding across the twelve states in the coming weeks that will likely surpass the worst flooding crisis in 2012 which affected over seven million people.
Increasing incidents of flooding continue to wreak havoc such as mass displacements, death and the destruction of homes. UNFPA does its part by providing life-saving reproductive health care to women in crisis-affected countries, safe spaces for women and girls, and services for survivors of sexual violence.