Red Cross says 148 killed by flood in 21 states

Mairiga told a news briefing in Abuja that 64,000 others had been rendered homeless by the floods, adding that about 10,000 victims had been targeted for assistance.

He said that heavy rains in recent weeks had caused widespread destruction and forced many families into makeshift camps.

According to him, an estimated 134,000 people had now been affected by the floods and that concern was growing about the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera.

``We are targeting 10,000 people in 10 locations of Adamawa, Taraba, Kogi, Plateau, Katsina, Cross River, Jigawa, Kogi, Benue and Edo,'' he said.

Mairiga explained that in response to the worsening crisis, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) had launched an emergency appeal for funds.

The decision, he said, was to aid the Nigerian Red Cross Society to assist 10,000 victims.

He said that the funds raised through the appeal would support ongoing efforts by the society to provide victims with emergency shelter and other essential relief items.

According to him, a Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT) and a Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT) have been deployed to support the relief effort.

He said that N33.5 million had been provided from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to start the operation.

``The NRCS, with support from the IFRC and other partners, has been distributing food and non-food items, including mosquito nets, shelter tool kits, tarpaulins, hygiene kits and kitchen sets to affected families.

``Volunteers from the organisation are also carrying out awareness-raising campaigns for people at risk from water borne diseases,’’ he said.

Mairiga explained that one of the major concerns was the development of a serious health situation due to the spread of water borne diseases such as gastro-enteritis.

``The society will not only sink shallow boreholes but also provide the communities with water purification tablets (aqua tabs), Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) to forestall outbreak of gastro-enteritis,’’ he added.

He said that the society also had an elaborate plan of training and retraining volunteers and community members on hygiene and sanitation.

Mairiga thanked the IFRC for providing elaborate response to support the affected communities and called on the public, corporate and international organisations to support the Red Cross to further assist more people.

He also commended the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for its ``untiring’' efforts in handling flood issues.