The United Nations has raised the alarm over the possibility of an outbreak of Cholera disease at emergency Internally Displaced Person camps in Maduguri, Borno State as a result of reported flooding in the state.
A report released by the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said the immediate needs are food, protection, shelter and clean water, adding that some water sources are contaminated, and could lead to outbreaks of diseases such as Cholera.
It wrote, “The immediate needs are food, shelter and clean water, with some water sources contaminated. Protection remains a major concern, especially among unaccompanied and separated children, older persons and people living with disabilities.
“Intermediate needs include non-food items and interventions to prevent the outbreak of diseases such as cholera in congested sites. The floods have also affected nutrition stabilization centres treating severely malnourished children in MMC and Jere LGAs.
“Beyond MMC and Jere LGAs in Borno State, the Dalwa community in Damboa LGA is also affected, with Bama and Gwoza LGAs similarly reporting flooding. Before the recent flash floods, almost 123,000 people in Borno State were affected by floods and windstorms since August. The floods have destroyed critical infrastructure and heightened the risk of disease outbreaks especially in overcrowded IDP camps.
“Some of the flood-affected areas in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states are facing a food and nutrition crisis affecting 4.8 million people and putting the lives of 230,000 children at risk through severe acute malnutrition.”
In Maiduguri, the most affected areas are Gwange, Bama Road, Maiduguri Zoo, Post office, State Secretariat, Lagos Street, Shehu’s Palace, the Maiduguri Main Market, Customs / Gamboru areas, Budum, Specialist Hospital and Post Office general area.
State Lowcost area is currently on high alert. Shikari general area is also flooded, with people relocating along Muna Road.
The UN also said two of its guesthouses are inaccessible due to flooding.
In Adamawa and Yobe states, over 12,500 and 46,600 people, respectively, are affected by flooding.
“In Adamawa, there are fears of more severe flood impact with early reports from Cameroon indicating that there may be a release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam which has also sustained damage due to heavy rains.
“So far, no official notification has been received from the Cameroonian authorities. These flash floods are occurring against a backdrop of nationwide floods in Nigeria, which have so far claimed more than 200 lives and affected more than 800,000 people across 29 states, according to data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).”
Borno State has the highest number of affected and displaced people, as of 9 September.
Other states most affected by the floods across the country include Bauchi, Bayelsa, Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Niger, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
Across Nigeria, floods have damaged tens of thousands of hectares of farmland ahead of the harvest season, amid record spikes in food and fuel inflation.
“The damage to crops risks elevating food insecurity in the ongoing lean season, and in the coming months. This may lead to a further deterioration in the already alarming food insecurity in the country.
“More than 32 million people in Nigeria are facing severe food insecurity, according to the March 2024 Cadre Harmonisé food security and nutrition assessment.”
UN, however, added that its partners have activated their business continuity plans to continue providing critical services.
