In the Ivrogbo-iri community in Nigeria’s Delta State, Blessing Emeldi lived happily with her children, farming and selling cassava, yams and bananas. That was until devastating floods in 2022 washed away her farm and all her precious crops.
“It was a shock, and I felt helpless,” says Blessing, recounting how the floods robbed her of her only source of livelihood. “I struggled to pay my children’s school fees.”
Many parts of Delta State are prone to seasonal flooding, but the floods in 2022 were particularly bad and caused widespread devastation. With IFRC support through an anticipatory allocation from the IFRC-DREF fund, followed by an emergency appeal, the Nigerian Red Cross Society and its partners provided a wide range of assistance, including multi-purpose cash grants.
People such as Blessing could use those cash grants to meet a variety of needs.
"The cash helped me buy food and basic needs, and I was able to start a firewood business to pay my children’s school fees. Things have gotten better."
The cash grants were just a part of the Nigerian Red Cross response. They also provided help with shelter, health services, protection of people in vulnerable situations, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene support. The goal is to both address urgent needs and promote resilience among those most impacted by the inundations.
Two sisters, Juliet and Constance Elorghor, gather water from a new water source established by the Nigerian Red Cross in their community after floods in 2023. 14-year-old Juliet and 9-year-old Constance say the ready availability of water means they spend less time going to get water and more time in school.
Photo: Ene Abba/IFRC
Accessible Clean Water
The Nigerian Red Cross also helped establish new water points so people in the communities could access clean, safe water. This enabled girls, who are usually responsible for collecting water for their families, to focus on their school.
Juliet and Constance Elorghor are 14 and 9-year-old sisters recount the difficulties they faced before the water points were built.
"Before, we carried basins for very long distances to the river or fetched water from a communal well,” Juliet recalls, as her sister, Constance, nods in agreement.
“It was hard, and I often went to school late or missed school, because water was scarce, and the queues were long. We also often fell sick because the water was dirty."
“It was worse during the floods because our well was filled with dirty water and our river too. We faced water scarcity, and it was a hard time,” she continues.
"Now, with the water points close to my house, we don't go to school late anymore, and we don't fall sick because the water is clean. The Red Cross even gave us jerry cans and buckets with lids that make fetching and storing water better."
Gladys Ajiri (center) sits with three of her children in front of her new home, built using concrete blocks. Her earlier home, made from traditional mud construction, was washed away by the floods in 2023.
Photo: Ene Abba/IFRC
Rebuilding stronger
The Nigerian Red Cross also restored homes destroyed by the floods, which helped families recover and prepare them for the future.
In Araya community, Gladys Ajiri, a mother of six whose home was destroyed by the floods, spoke about how hard it was for them to be displaced.
"My previous house was made of mud and was easily washed away by the floods. We had nowhere to go and suffered greatly, living on the good will from neighbors," Gladys recalls. "The Red Cross helped build this beautiful concrete house for us. My children are safe now, and I am grateful for this kindness."
Josephine Onogomohor and Miriam Abide are widows whose homes were also destroyed by the floods and rebuilt by the Nigerian Red Cross. Also receiving multi-purpose cash assistance, Miriam, who lost all her shop items to the floods, used it to restart her business in front of her newly rebuilt home.
"I was given money in this card, and my destroyed house was rebuilt. Now I have started selling my small provisions again to keep me going. This kind of help, I have never seen before. There was no one to help me, but the Red Cross came to my aid. I am forever grateful," Miriam said. "When the floods come again, we are better prepared."
A volunteer with the Nigerian Red Cross provides a cash card to Miriam Abide, whose home was destroyed by the floods and then later rebuilt by the Nigerian
Photo: Ene Abba/IFRC
