By
By Godfrey Olukya 24-9-2012
The Economic community of west African states, (ECOWAS) has donated 200 million Francs towards supporting of victims of devastating floods in Niger which have killed many people and affected over 500, 000 others in addition to damaging farms and other property.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Gender, Dr. Adrienne Diop, handed over the money to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Niger, Mr. Bazoum Mohamed, at a brief ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs complex in the
country’s Capital Niamey.
While handing over the cheque, Dr. Diop said ,’ It is a pity that some lives and property have been lost due to the floods. This donation is in solidarity with the government and people of Niger and a demonstration of the organization’s readiness to help community citizens in times of crisis. ‘
She said that ECOWAS is always ready to help any member state that lands in problem adding that their concerns and interventions are not limited to resolving crisis borne out of armed conflicts alone but also to addressing crisis situations arising from natural disasters.
Niger’s foreign affairs minister, Mohamed Bazoum appreciated ECOWAS gesture of helping people of Niger. He said what they did symbolizes solidarity.
This year’s floods in Niger have been described by meteorologists there as the worst in the past 80 years. The situation is complicated by the fact that the floods came after a long drought which hit the country earlier this year, affecting over five million persons.
END