35 TONNES OF aid from Ireland have been flown to the West African state of Niger after floods left thousands homeless.
The supplies were donated to Plan Ireland by Irish Aid in Dublin as part of a commitment by the Irish government.
The consignment is valued at approximately €162,000 and consists of 4,500 blankets; 250 tarpaulins; 1,500 mosquito nets; 400 ropes; 200 pick axes with handles; 4,500 jerrycans and 150 multi-purpose tents.
Emergency
Plan Niger country director Rheal Drisdelle formally presented the supplies to government representatives Daouda Marthe, Vice President National Assembly; Saidou Sidibe, Prime Minister’s chief of staff; Sa’a Mallam Barmou, Prime Minister’s advisor for humanitarian affairs; and Interior Minister Abdou Lalo.
Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello said:
The supplies of tents, blankets, mosquito nets, health care supplies and water storage equipment which Ireland is sending to Niamey will help thousands of Nigeriens, victims of the severe floods in the western regions of Tillaberi and Dosso. Ireland has moved quickly to respond to the emergency in the Sahel region.
He added:
Since the beginning of this year, I have authorised more than €9 million in funding to assist in the humanitarian relief efforts there, including €4.25million in funding to the UN and agencies which I announced in May.
Food crisis
The floods are the latest in a line of disasters to strike Niger. Plan Ireland CEO David Dalton said that in the space of 10 months, Niger has been hit by a food crisis brought on by high market prices and poor harvests, a refugee crisis triggered by conflict in neighbouring Mali, followed by a cholera outbreak and now floods.
Plan Ireland said the floods have destroyed more than 14,000 homes and left 176,000 homeless and 44 dead. The majority of the homeless are children.
Bad weather earlier this week destroyed or damaged the temporary homes of 130 Malian refugee families at the largest Malian refugee camp in Niger, Tabarey-bare. They have since been repaired or replaced by Plan.
Plan Ireland has opened a public West Africa Crisis Appeal on www.plan.ie or 1800 829 829.
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