Gift Habib
In response to the floods that have displaced thousands of people in Maiduguri, Borno State, officials from the United Nations and humanitarian organisations have pledged immediate support for the affected population.
This was stated in a press release made available to journalists on Sunday by the National Information Officer of the UN Information Centre, Oluseyi Soremekun.
The floods, caused by the collapse of the Alau Dam on 9th September, have left thousands homeless, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation in Borno State.
Led by Mohamed Fall, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, a high-level delegation of UN agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society visited Maiduguri on Saturday.
The team met with affected residents, government officials, and Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, to assess the damage and outline immediate support measures.
“The flood-affected people are facing a crisis within a crisis, as the floods occurred during a severe food insecurity and malnutrition crisis.
“I witnessed firsthand the devastation and hardship caused by the flooding, including the destruction of homes, businesses, and infrastructure. I also saw the suffering of the affected communities,” Fall stated.
The UN noted that many people affected by the floods, reported to be the worst in 30 years, already had humanitarian needs prior to the disaster, having been displaced multiple times by conflict and insecurity, and are now even more vulnerable.
The disaster has forced thousands into overcrowded relocation sites, with many lacking basic necessities such as food, clean water, and shelter.
Officials visited two of the 25 temporary camps, including Asheik Jarma Primary School and Yerwa GGSS, where flood survivors have been relocated.
The delegation promised swift action to alleviate the suffering of displaced families, including the provision of food, clean water, sanitation facilities, and shelter.
The floods have also dealt a severe blow to agriculture in the region. Across Nigeria, more than 125,000 hectares of farmland have been destroyed just before the harvest season.
According to the UN, Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are particularly hard-hit, with 4.8 million people facing severe food insecurity and 230,000 children at risk of acute malnutrition.
Food prices have more than tripled in the past year due to inflation, and the destruction of crops could worsen the already critical situation.
In response, the UN and its partners have launched an emergency aid effort, including airlifting food to hard-to-reach areas, trucking in clean water, and providing hygiene kits to prevent disease outbreaks.
To scale up lifesaving assistance, Mr Fall announced the allocation of US$6 million from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund, with additional funding in the pipeline, bringing the total contribution to more than US$8 million.
Zulum expressed his gratitude for international support. “We are especially thankful for the use of the UN helicopters to deliver life-saving assistance, including food and non-food items, to communities cut off by the flood. I also thank the UN for camp coordination and camp management support.
“Our priority is to rebuild the lives of affected people and to ensure that the displaced population does not stay for more than two weeks in the temporary shelters provided for them,” he said.
However, humanitarian needs are escalating rapidly. Despite the UN’s ongoing efforts, the Humanitarian Response Plan for Nigeria remains underfunded, with only 46 percent of the US$927 million required secured.
The UN noted that as floods continue to devastate other states such as Bauchi, Enugu, and Bayelsa, additional resources are urgently needed.
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