No fewer than 259 people have been killed out of a total of 1,048,312 individuals affected by the recent flood disaster that ravaged 29 states across the country.
Speaking on the current trend of flooding nationwide, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, disclosed during the National Emergency Coordination Forum meeting held in Abuja that 29 states and 172 local government councils have been impacted by flooding. This has affected 1,048,312 people, displaced 625,239, and resulted in the death of 259 individuals.
“As you may all be aware, flooding has ravaged many parts of the country with devastating impacts in some locations. The latest instance is in Borno State, where search and rescue operations are currently being carried out by emergency workers.
“It is important to note that flood predictions for Nigeria this year were disseminated to various stakeholders by NEMA and other relevant agencies. Although flooding cannot be entirely prevented, efforts are being made to mitigate its impact as much as possible.
“The current trend indicates that 29 states and 172 local government areas have been affected by flooding, impacting 1,048,312 people, displacing 625,239, and causing 259 deaths. This unfortunate and somewhat unexpected incident requires a coordinated response, hence the call for this emergency meeting.
“This occurrence aligns with the predictions contained in this year’s Annual Flood Outlook released by NIHSA, which stated that from July to September 2024, 33 states and 135 LGAs are at high risk of flooding, while from October to November, 19 states and 44 LGAs are also at risk.”
Further information reveals that there have been 2,390 injuries, and 125,800 hectares of land and 94,491 houses have been affected by the floods.
She assured that the Federal Government, through NEMA, will provide the necessary assistance to those affected by the flood disaster in Maiduguri and other states of the Federation.
According to her, “The main reasons for convening this meeting are to receive updates on the flood situation and to assign roles and responsibilities to all stakeholders to ensure we are all on the same page.
“As part of ongoing efforts, Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps have been activated in some states; additional staff have been deployed to support search and rescue operations; water purification and critical search and rescue equipment have been sent to affected states; and food and non-food items are being provided to support affected individuals.
“To complement these efforts, plans are underway to: provide additional relief interventions, including medical consumables and medicaments; deploy additional water purifiers; support states in evacuating at-risk people; provide additional support to Naval Disaster Response Units; offer additional support for sectoral responses; relocate and rehabilitate the displaced population; and conduct in-depth damage and loss assessments, among other actions.
“While appreciating the support of our international partners, it is important to note that the situation is not yet overwhelming for the Nigerian Government to handle. We encourage partners to continue their routine assistance to affected individuals while monitoring the situation.
“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, let us use this opportunity to further discuss efforts to alleviate the suffering of affected people and to address the ongoing disaster across the country.”
Updating on the Maiduguri flood disaster, NEMA’s Assistant Director of Search & Rescue/EOC Coordinator, Mrs. Wagami Lydia Madu, reported that no fewer than 37 deaths have been recorded since the flood disaster began last Friday.
The breakdown of fatalities indicates that seven deaths were recorded by last Saturday, with an additional 30 deaths reported by Thursday, September 12, 2024.
She also noted that 10 IDP camps have been established in Maiduguri so far.
Regarding the flooding situation in Maiduguri, she disclosed that 14,258 individuals were affected in Bakassi; 5,844 in Ashlek Jarma; 8,304 in Dalori; 9,438 in Yawa; and 10,212 in Gubio, while the number of affected individuals in other areas could not be ascertained at the time of the report.
According to her, NEMA has deployed additional support to Maiduguri, including search and rescue operatives with inflatable boats and life jackets, mobile water purifiers for drinking water, personnel for camp coordination and management, a mobile clinic and medical teams to provide medical care, and local divers for the evacuation of trapped victims.
On his part, the Head of UNOCHA in Nigeria, Mr. Trond Jenson, who spoke from Maiduguri, disclosed that approximately $6 million has been allocated for flood response in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states.
He stated: “Regarding ‘wet feeding,’ people are receiving cooked meals as many displaced individuals in camps, schools, and other public buildings lack the ability to cook due to the loss of their belongings.
“We are also ensuring that affected individuals have access to clean water through the provision of water purification systems, including chlorination kits.
“Urgent efforts are being made to provide shelter, as well as to address public health issues such as sanitation facilities to prevent the spread of diseases like typhoid, cholera, and acute water diarrhea.
“Finally, we are focusing on the protection of vulnerable populations. We have activated the humanitarian system, working with local and state authorities to map needs and track the response and emergency stocks available, including food, non-food items, and shelter materials. Some areas remain inaccessible, and we are collaborating with NEMA and the military to reach these people despite the ongoing food and nutrition crisis.
“We are also seeking flexibility from donors to reallocate existing funding towards this emergency and have requested central emergency relief funding for Maiduguri and surrounding states. The Nigeria Red Cross Society and other organizations are also launching appeals for support.
“In the BAY states, we are also preparing for potential flooding in Adamawa in the coming week and will work with the Adamawa Government to ensure effective relocation and support measures.”
