Flood claims 148 lives in Nigeria

At least 148 people died as a result of flooding in 21 states in Nigeria, a top official with the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) said on Tuesday. Head of disaster management for the organization Umar Mairiga made this known in Abuja, adding that 64,000 others had been rendered homeless by the floods. About 10,000 victims had been targeted for assistance, he told reporters, noting 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. The Red Cross official told reporters 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. Mairiga said the funds raised through the appeal would support ongoing efforts by the society to provide victims with emergency shelter and other essential relief items. Meanwhile, Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Environment on Tuesday predicted heavy rainfall which could cause flooding during the period till Oct. 10 in 16 states. The states are Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Anambra, Kwara, Jigawa, Katsina, Bauchi, Kano. Others are Adamawa, Kogi, Zamfara, Plateau, Lagos, Taraba and Cross Rivers.