06 April 2021
At the beginning of April, the Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Mr Jean Asselborn, visited the emergency shelters set up by the Luxembourg Red Cross humanitarian teams in Niger, following the historic floods of 2020.
“Our teams, who have been working in Niger since 2012 in increasingly difficult conditions, sincerely thank the Ministry for its support. In 2020, we provided emergency shelter to thousands of people affected by the floods, thanks to the financial support of the Luxembourg Cooperation,” said Brice Goedert, responsible for Niger for the Luxembourg Red Cross.
The emergency shelters set up by the Luxembourg and Niger Red Cross Societies are now housing 700 families, or 3,000 people in all. The floods of 2020 caused heavy material and human damage in Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world, constantly plagued with insecurity. According to official figures, more than 350,000 people were affected, and 35,000 houses collapsed.
Photo: The Minister, accompanied by the Ministry’s country representative in Niger, Mr Eric Dietz, exchanged views with Mr Ali Bandiaré, president of the Niger Red Cross, Mr Prosper Zombré, head of mission of the Luxembourg Red Cross in Niger and Mr Brice Goedert, responsible for Niger for the Luxembourg Red Cross, on the needs of the population, as well as on the partnership with the Red Cross to provide a decent living environment for the most vulnerable people.