Period covered by this Ops Update: 22 November to 20 December, 2012.
Appeal target (current): CHF 3,453,527;
Appeal coverage: 65%
Appeal history:
• This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on a preliminary basis on 29 September, 2012 for CHF 899,094 months to assist 10,000 beneficiaries for 6 months.
• CHF 200,000 was initially allocated from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) to respond.
• An Emergency Appeal was launched on 22 November, 2012 and has expanded this operation in terms of geographic scope, activities, budget and duration, with completion targeted for 25 September 2013.
Summary: Heavy rains between July and October 2012 in Nigeria led to the overflow of reservoirs, forced the release of dam water and breach of riverbanks, causing damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure, loss of property, livestock and displacement of people. The intense rains caused flooding in 33 of the 36 states, affected 7 million people, displaced 2.1 million and killed 363, according to the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA).
IFRC deployed two consecutive Field Assessment and Coordination Teams (FACT) to support the NRCS in needs assessment of the affected populations and to develop a plan of action. An emergency appeal targeting 11 states was subsequently launched. Following an integrated approach, the response to the flood events involved the distribution of relief items, support in emergency shelters, water, sanitation, hygiene promotion, health support and early recovery.
A total of 11,977 beneficiaries have so far received non-food and emergency shelter items (buckets, blankets, sleeping mats, jerry cans, tarpaulins, shelter kits) which have enabled them to meet their immediate needs. In an effort to prevent epidemics and promote better health, sensitization activities have been conducted in the 11 targeted states: Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Niger, Edo, Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers. In addition, 15 communities located in Edo, Kogi, Jigawa, Katsina and other states have received 2,245 mosquito nets. Complementing the immediate health assistance provided, the Nigerian Red Cross Society has mobilised and distributed 338 Low Flow Dispensary filters (for hand washing) in Illushi, Ifeku Island and Udaba communities (Edo state), 8,926 pieces of soap of 200gr in 9 states as well as 7,608 Aquatabs in 6 states. The Red Cross operation in Nigeria continues to function in a challenging security environment in different areas of the country. Operations are coordinated and planned considering security restraints and implemented accordingly.
Significant contributions to the appeal have been received from private sector donors such as Shell, Exxon Mobil, FCMB (First City Monument Bank PLC), and Nigeria LNG limited, government donors, including the French Embassy in Abuja, Czech Government and VERF/WHO Voluntary Emergency Relief as well as movement partners such as the American Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross Society (from Canadian Government), Japanese Red Cross Society, Netherlands Red Cross (from Netherlands Government), Swiss Red Cross, Red Cross of Monaco, Swedish Red Cross and also Finnish Red Cross. IFRC, on behalf of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, would like to extend gratitude to all donors and partners for their generous contributions and encourage donors to continue to fund the appeal in order to help meet the evident and urgent needs.