Authorities in Niger report that 246,228 people have been affected by floods since the onset of this year’s rainy season, disrupting communities across 122 municipalities.
The National Committee for Flood Prevention and Management (CNPGI) said over the week-end that more than 1,000 neighbourhoods and villages have been hit, with emergency support efforts already underway to reach thousands of households.
So far, 18,962 households, representing 142,642 people, have received 1,896.2 tonnes of cereals in three waves of relief. Officials assured that measures are being taken to ensure aid reaches the intended beneficiaries.
The committee noted that a fourth round of assistance is being processed to target an additional 9,976 households, equivalent to 79,442 people. The update was provided after a meeting chaired by the Minister of Equipment and Infrastructure, Colonel Major Salissou Mahaman Salissou, at the prime minister’s office. Authorities stressed the need for timely intervention as affected families continue to struggle with displacement and loss of livelihoods due to the floods.
Flooding has also severely disrupted education, with 524 classrooms, 511 latrines and 157 administrative blocks damaged beyond use. The CNPGI revealed that 238 schools, comprising 271 classrooms, are currently being used as temporary shelters for displaced persons. The government faces mounting pressure to vacate these facilities and rebuild critical infrastructure before the academic year begins, to ensure that education for thousands of children can resume without further delay.