Severe Flooding Worsens Humanitarian Crisis in Northeastern Nigeria
Severe floods have been ongoing in northeastern Nigeria, impacting over 400,000 people, as reported by the United Nations on Wednesday, September 18. In Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, about 15% of the city is currently submerged. The flooding has worsened the existing humanitarian crisis in the region, where millions have been displaced due to armed conflict.
“With our small children, we don’t know where to stay now. The government should be sympathetic and allow us to stay longer in the camp. If we return home, we won’t have a place to sleep with our children. And if we go to someone else’s house, we won’t feel comfortable.”
Earlier this month, flooding killed 30 people in the state following the collapse of a major dam. Nationwide, floods have claimed 269 lives as of September 15, according to the National Emergency Management Agency.
Floods have also destroyed crops and livestock.
“It’s an absolute tragedy for the local people who have lost their homes,” said David Stephenson, a representative of the World Food Programme.
Stephenson emphasized that the recent flooding has further compounded the difficulties faced by internally displaced individuals in the region, a significant number of whom were already in precarious situations due to the persistent violence in the area.
Government officials have issued alerts about the possibility of flooding in 11 states after the discharge of water from a dam in Cameroon, which shares borders with the affected region.
This year, West Africa has been hit by some of the most devastating floods in many years, impacting the lives of over 2 million people.
About The Author
