Niamey 鈥撎鼸very summer the West African nation of Niger听endures听torrential rains听which听can destroy hundreds of households and trigger cholera outbreaks, often leading to major human and material losses across the country.听听
This year, in fact, more than 200,000 people are at risk of being displaced during the rainy season due to overflowing rivers and landslides. Close to 50,000 of these potential victims reside in听Dosso, 45,000 in Niger鈥檚 capital city, Niamey, and 38,000 more in听Maradi.听
These past two months alone, floods killed 45 people, injured 55 and left more than 66,000 displaced, most notably in the regions of听Maradi, Agadez and Zinder. Authorities asked Niamey residents to take the necessary precautions to prepare for further damage after the Niger River听overflowed and听urged residents to leave the flood-prone areas.听
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and its partners are able to assist populations affected by natural disasters threatening Niger through their humanitarian emergency assistance.听听
Together with UNICEF and Niger鈥檚 General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC), IOM this week has distributed over 500 non-food item听(NFI)听kits, including 250 tarpaulins, to households affected by floods in听Dosso听(285),听Tillab茅ri听(77) and听Maradi听(150).听听
This assistance followed requests from the Ministry of Humanitarian Action and Disaster Management (MAHGC) in Niger, the Shelter and NFI Working Group urgently convened and assessed the risk levels, needs and costs, and responded quickly and appropriately.听听
鈥淚t was about three in the morning when a neighbor woke us, telling us to get up and leave. People were being swept away by the floods,鈥澨齬ecalled听Issaka听Amadou, one of the residents of the听Kirkisoye听neighborhood in Niamey. 鈥淭he authorities eventually managed to contain the floods, but we had to temporarily move to the school nearby.鈥澨�
Along with houses, the heavy rains have affected various crops and hydro-agricultural developments along the banks of the Niger River where most of Niamey鈥檚 inhabitants reside. However, despite the warnings, many residents are reluctant to leave their homes.听
IOM has been active in emergency responses in Niger since 2013, providing shelter and NFI kits to vulnerable displaced communities. IOM Niger also facilitates, as co-lead together with the Ministry of Humanitarian Action and Disaster Management (MAHGC), the coordination of the Shelter and NFI Working Group.听听听
鈥淣o one should be forced to leave their home or live in constant fear of their home being destroyed,鈥� said Barbara听Rijks, IOM鈥檚 Chief of Mission in Niger. 鈥淎long with national authorities, we are committed to responding to this crisis in the most efficient manner and providing relief to vulnerable communities in need,鈥� she added.听
For more information, please contact Monica听Chiriac听at IOM Niger,听Tel: +227 8931 8764, Email:听mchiriac@iom.int听听
