The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) through its commission, distributed assorted relief materials to the victims of the 2024 flood disasters across affected communities in Bauchi State yesterday.
LEADERSHIP reports that about 16 local government areas in Bauchi have recorded one or more incidents of flood disasters in 2024, leading to the death of 24 people while 163 others were severely injured.
Similarly, the flood cut off about 12 major roads, destroyed 60 culverts, displaced 122,330 households, destroyed 52,035 houses, collapsed 178 electric poles, and lost 11,183 livestock.
The relief materials were distributed under the Emergency Flood Resilience Project of the ECOWAS Commission with the support of Federal Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and
Foreign Affairs, the Red Cross Society of Nigeria and the Bauchi government.
About 1000 households were identified to receive the relief materials from nine local government areas severely affected by the floods.
Each beneficiary received assorted items comprising food and non-food items and N75,000 cash support.
President of ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray sympathised with victims of the Bauchi flood disasters and assured continuous support of the Commission.
Meanwhile, the Bauchi government approved other relief materials for 150 victims of the flood in Bauchi local government.
Governor Bala Mohammed, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, commended ECOWAS Commission for the support to those who have been deeply affected by the devastating floods that ravaged the communities.
He noted that the flood destroyed farmlands and other sources of livelihood and caused large-scale displacement. Women and children slept in open spaces.