New Delhi, November 14 (IANS). India sent 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Nigeria on Thursday. Devastating floods have caused huge devastation in the West African country. Hundreds of people have died due to floods. New Delhi also announced to provide 60 tonnes of additional aid to the African nation.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has given this information by posting a post on Twitter. It said, “Committed to humanitarian assistance… India has sent 15 tonnes of aid to help the people affected by the devastating floods in Nigeria. An additional 60 tonnes of aid will be sent in the future.”
The Ministry of External Affairs informed that this assistance includes food, mats, blankets, water purification supplies and other relief items.
Floods that have swept across much of Nigeria this year have killed at least 321 people and displaced more than 740,000.
Apart from this, about 2,854 people have been injured in floods caused by prolonged rains in the most populous African country. Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the south-eastern state of Anambra gave this information after the monthly National Economic Council meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Soludo said, “The country is facing a national emergency due to the floods and reports so far have described it as a major national disaster. There has been massive displacement, loss of life and property, and damage to homes. “
He further said, “Floods have occurred in 34 out of 36 states of the country and due to this, 217 out of 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) have been affected. Apart from this, 740,743 people have left their homes due to the devastating floods. “281,000 houses and 258,000 acres of agricultural land have been destroyed or affected by the floods.”
Meanwhile, UN agencies have appealed for continued aid to Nigeria.
–IANS
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