AFRICA/NIGERIA - National disaster: floods have so far hit seven million and 700 thousand people

Lagos (Agenzia Fides) - The death toll caused by the worst floods recorded in the last decades in southern Nigeria (see Fides 11/10/2012) continues to worsen. According to estimates by the National Emergency Management Agency of Nigeria (NEMA), since the month of July about 400 people have been killed and another two million and one hundred thousand have fled their homes. The floods, which are defined by the local authorities a 'national disaster', have hit 7 million and 700 thousand people, of whom 18,282, swept away by the rivers, were injured. Although authorities have not confirmed it, the consequences of the disaster are very serious and may lead to food crisis due to the crop which submerged by the water. Damage was also caused to oil, a major source of public revenue, and the production has been reduced to 500 thousand barrels per day, about a fifth of its potential. Most of the flood victims criticized the inadequate response of the authorities, despite heavy rains fall every year between August and October in the states of Bayelsa and Delta. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 07/11/2012)