(Ecofin Agency) - Nigeria is currently facing devastating floods that have affected several regions. The floods have caused numerous casualties, significant property damage, and displaced millions of people.

The European Union (EU) has released €1.1 million (about $1.22 million) to support victims of severe flooding in Nigeria. The country is one of six African nations receiving a total of €5.4 million ($6.01 million) from the EU to help address the devastating effects of flooding.

According to a statement shared yesterday by the EU’s account in Nigeria, “This funding will help our humanitarian partners on the ground to provide immediate aid and respond to the most urgent needs concerning food, shelter, access to clean water and sanitation and other essential services in the hardest-hit areas”.

 In addition to Nigeria, Chad and Mali will each receive €1 million, while Niger will get €1.35 million. Cameroon and Burkina Faso are set to receive €650,000 and €300,000, respectively. This new funding comes on top of the €232 million in humanitarian aid the EU has already provided to these countries since the start of the year.

Since the rainy season started in Nigeria, floods have caused 269 deaths and displaced 641,127 people, according to data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) as of September 15, 2024. The northern region of the country has been the most affected.

The Nigerian government, through NEMA, is also assisting those impacted by the floods. NEMA reports that 42,000 tons of food have been distributed to vulnerable communities.

Let’s note that, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in Africa 2023 report, African countries lose an average of 2% to 5% of their GDP each year due to extreme weather events such as deadly heatwaves, heavy rainfall, cyclones, and droughts.