The United Nations and various humanitarian organizations have committed to delivering immediate aid to affected communities in response to the devastating floods that have displaced thousands in Maiduguri, Borno State,
According to The PUNCH, this was announced in a press release issued by Oluseyi Soremekun, the National Information Officer of the UN Information Centre, on Sunday.
The flooding, triggered by the collapse of the Alau Dam on September 9, has left many residents without homes, worsening an already precarious humanitarian situation in Borno.
The UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, led a high-level delegation of UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society to the region on Saturday to assess the damage and engage with both the displaced population and government officials.
The delegation met with Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, as well as affected residents, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the disaster’s impact.
“The flood-affected people are facing a crisis within a crisis, as the floods occurred during a severe food insecurity and malnutrition crisis,” Fall noted.
He emphasized the gravity of the situation, saying, “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.”
According to the UN, the floods, regarded as the worst in three decades, have exacerbated the vulnerabilities of communities already grappling with displacement due to conflict and insecurity.
Many of those impacted by the disaster were already in dire need of humanitarian assistance, having been displaced multiple times before. Now, they find themselves in overcrowded camps and temporary shelters with inadequate access to essential services such as food, clean water, and shelter.
During their visit, the delegation toured two of the 25 temporary camps set up for flood survivors—Asheik Jarma Primary School and Yerwa GGSS—where they interacted with displaced families.
In response to the urgent needs, the delegation committed to swift interventions, including the distribution of food, provision of clean water, establishment of sanitation facilities, and the construction of temporary shelters.
The floods have not only displaced people but also caused widespread damage to agriculture in the region. Across Nigeria, over 125,000 hectares of farmland have been destroyed, threatening food security, particularly as this devastation comes just before harvest season. Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are the hardest hit, with 4.8 million people facing severe food insecurity and 230,000 children at risk of acute malnutrition. Rising inflation has tripled food prices in the last year, and the destruction of crops could further intensify the already dire situation.
In response to this escalating crisis, the UN and its partners have launched an emergency relief operation. This effort includes airlifting food to inaccessible areas, transporting clean water, and providing hygiene kits to prevent disease outbreaks.
As part of the response, Mohamed Fall announced the allocation of US$6 million from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund, with further contributions expected to raise the total to over US$8 million.
Governor Zulum expressed his appreciation for the international community’s support, specifically highlighting the use of UN helicopters to deliver critical supplies to flood-affected areas.
“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,” Zulum said. He emphasized the state’s focus on quickly transitioning the displaced population out of temporary camps, adding, “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.”
Despite these efforts, humanitarian needs continue to grow rapidly. The UN’s Humanitarian Response Plan for Nigeria remains significantly underfunded, with only 46 percent of the US$927 million required secured.
The ongoing floods in other parts of the country, including Bauchi, Enugu, and Bayelsa states, have further stretched resources, underscoring the urgent need for additional funding and support to address the escalating crisis.
