United Nations officials, alongside humanitarian organizations, visited Maiduguri, Borno State, to assess the devastating impact of floods that have ravaged the region.
Led by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, the team, including international and local NGOs, conducted an assessment of the damage caused by the Alau Dam flood.
In a press release on Sunday, National Information Officer of the UN Information Centre, Oluseyi Soremekun, revealed that the delegation met with affected residents, government officials, and Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum.
The team evaluated the extent of the destruction and discussed immediate relief measures.
“The flood-affected people are facing a crisis within a crisis, as the floods struck during an ongoing severe food insecurity and malnutrition emergency,” said Mohamed Fall. “I witnessed firsthand the devastation, from homes and businesses destroyed to the suffering of affected communities.”
The delegation committed to swift action, focusing on providing essential support such as food, clean water, sanitation, and shelter for displaced families. The floods, considered the worst in 30 years, have displaced over one million people in Maiduguri and surrounding areas. The victims, already vulnerable from years of conflict and insecurity, are now in an even more precarious situation.
The floodwaters, triggered by torrential rains and the bursting of a dam, inundated thousands of homes. Barkindo Mohammed, Director General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), estimated that the number of displaced individuals could reach one million.
Tragically, many families have suffered losses. Mohammed Sheriff, a 60-year-old resident, shared his anguish as two of his children, aged 11 and 13, went missing during the floods. “We haven’t seen them since, and we fear the worst,” he said.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that at least 30 people have died in the floods. According to NEMA’s Director General Zubaida Umar, while the water levels are now receding, rescue efforts continue, with significant portions of the city still underwater.
British charity Save The Children expressed concern over the situation, warning that damage to water and sanitation infrastructure could lead to outbreaks of cholera and other diseases. The World Food Programme (WFP) also warned that the floods could exacerbate food insecurity in the region.
So far, at least 259 people have lost their lives to flooding across Nigeria this rainy season, with more rainfall expected.
