King Charles III has written to President Muhammadu Buhari over the recent flooding in Nigeria, expressing his sympathy with the country over the “devastating” incidents.
In the letter, the monarch said “Your Excellency, Dear Mr. President, I wanted you to know how deeply saddened both my wife and I are to hear of the many people who have lost their loved ones and whose lives have been so dreadfully affected as a consequence of the devastating floods across Nigeria.
“We remember with the greatest affection our visits to Nigeria and the kindness of the people we met.”
He reiterated the UK’s support to Nigeria, saying “however inadequate this may be under such tragic circumstances, our most heartfelt sympathy is with all those who have suffered so much, and our thoughts are with those working to support the recovery efforts.
King Charles III.
"I know that the United Kingdom stands in solidarity with Nigeria as you recover from these truly terrible events.”
As of Sunday, more than 600 people had already perished in the recent floods.
According to a tweet from Nigeria's ministry of humanitarian affairs, the tragedy has also forced more than 1.3 million people to leave their homes.
"Unfortunately, over 603 lives have been lost as of today October 16, 2022,” said Humanitarian Affairs Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq.
The US is to give $1 million to support flood victims.
Meanwhile, the United States said that it would give $1 million through its agency for international development (USAID) to help and support Nigeria's flood victims.
Flooding caused by unusually high rains has affected over 2.8 million people in Nigeria. Millions of people have been forced to leave their houses after they were either destroyed or severely damaged.
According to a statement from the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, the floods have made an already dire humanitarian situation in Nigeria worse. Millions of people have been displaced from their homes due to ongoing war, particularly in the northern area.
The statement said "We are also concerned that standing floodwaters could increase the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states, where cholera outbreaks were declared in August and September and at least 7,750 cases were recorded. In 2022, 31 out of 36 states reported cholera cases.”
Reacting to the development, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, said: “We are filled with grief for the flood victims who have lost so much – livelihoods, homes, and even loved ones.
“The United States continues to stand with the people of Nigeria during this extremely difficult time.”
The $1 million in USAID funding will allow local partners on the ground to offer emergency shelter assistance, relief supplies, hygiene kits to encourage safe and healthy practices amid the ongoing cholera outbreak, and multipurpose financial assistance for those affected by the flooding.
To assess needs and decide whether more aid is necessary, USAID disaster experts will keep a close eye on the situation and work closely with humanitarian partners and the Nigerian government.
Japan sends its condolences.
Fumio Kishida, the prime minister of Japan, expressed sympathy for President Buhari over the increasing number of floods in Nigeria.
According to a statement released on Wednesday and signed by the president's spokesperson Femi Adesina, Kishida's message was included in a letter sent to President Buhari.
The statement was titled “Japanese Prime Minister sends condolences to President Buhari over severe floods.”
The letter partly read, ‘’On behalf of the government and the people of Japan, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives and their bereaved families.’’
Experts predict the heavy rainfall and flooding will continue through November.
Environment.
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