Humanitarian support in Nigeria

Nigeria in numbers

• Nigeria ranks 163rd out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index.
• 26.4 million people in the country are in a food crisis – that’s over 10% of Nigeria’s population.
• Nigeria continues to face recurring outbreaks of infectious diseases, including diphtheria, cholera, and malaria, which claim millions of lives annually.
• Only 20% of Nigeria’s 30,000 primary health care facilities are fully functional. There are 0.4 doctors for every 1,000 people - the global benchmark is 1.5 per 1,000 people.
• In 2022, floods displaced over 1.4 million people, killed over 603 people, and injured more than 2,400 people.
• Studies have shown that the heavy rainfall which caused these floods was 80 times more likely because of the climate crisis.

Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement response

The British Red Cross has a long-standing partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross (NCRS), a leading responder in Nigeria with over 800,000 volunteers. 

Over the years, we’ve supported the NCRS to deliver top-quality programs through peer-to-peer collaboration, training, and capacity-building initiatives, helping them to effectively meet the needs of people affected by crises in Nigeria.

As the impact of the climate crisis intensifies, severe flooding poses a major threat by increasing the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera, disrupting market supplies, and hindering livelihoods. 

In response, we are working closely with the NCRS on a disaster management project to help vulnerable communities in five Nigerian states become more resilient. 

By developing community action plans, implementing mitigation measures, and teaching early warning systems, the project help ensure these communities are better prepared for disasters. The project also support recovery efforts by offering cash and voucher assistance, providing flood resilience items such as buckets and wellington boots, and promoting water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices.

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