The United Nations has announced a $6 million relief fund to assist victims of recent flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Fall, the aid comes in response to the devastating impact of the floods caused by an overflow of the Alau Dam, located just south of Maiduguri.
Over the weekend, a joint mission comprising UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the Nigeria Red Cross Society visited the flood-stricken areas to assess the damage and meet with those affected. Many of the victims had already been displaced multiple times due to the ongoing conflict and insecurity in the region.
“We and our partners are providing hot meals, air-dropping food into areas inaccessible by road due to the flooding, and trucking in water to those in need,” Fall stated. “Additionally, we are delivering water purification tablets and sanitation hygiene services to prevent disease outbreaks. Hygiene and dignity kits are being supplied to women and girls, alongside emergency health and shelter services.”
The UN, alongside its humanitarian partners, is also working closely with donors to secure additional funding. The flooding has destroyed over 125,000 hectares of farmland, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region.
