On Wednesday, September 18, severe flooding continued to devastate northeastern Nigeria, affecting more than 400,000 people, according to the United Nations.
In Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, approximately 15% of the city is submerged under water, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation in a region plagued by armed conflict and displacement.
Residents, particularly those with young children, face uncertainty and hardship. “We don’t know where to stay now with our small children. The government should show sympathy and allow us to stay longer in the camp. If we return home, there’s no place to sleep, and staying in someone else’s house would be uncomfortable,” said one displaced individual.
Earlier in the month, flooding killed 30 people in Borno State following the collapse of a major dam. Nationwide, the death toll from floods has risen to 269 as of September 15, according to the National Emergency Management Agency.
In addition to the loss of life, the floods have devastated crops and livestock, compounding the suffering of already vulnerable communities. David Stephenson, a representative of the World Food Programme, described the situation as an “absolute tragedy,” as homes and livelihoods have been wiped out.
The flooding poses yet another challenge for the internally displaced population, already struggling due to the violence in the region. Authorities have issued warnings of potential flooding in 11 states, triggered by the release of water from a dam in neighboring Cameroon.
This year, West Africa has faced its heaviest flooding in decades, affecting more than 2 million people across the region.
