Nigeria floods claim 269 lives across states

Heavy rains have devastated 30 of Nigeria’s 36 states, with the government reporting 269 deaths and more than a million people affected. Over 640,000 have been displaced from their homes.

Maiduguri, the Borno state capital and a major humanitarian hub in the northeast, has been hit hardest by the floods.

A breach in the nearby Alau Dam, just 20 kilometres away, uprooted over 400,000 people, submerging half of the town. Many of the displaced had already been forced from their homes by conflict or climate change.

Half of Maiduguri has been submerged and most residents have lost everything. Many had already been displaced by conflict or the effects of climate change.

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said it is working with its partners to provide vital aid, including shelter, blankets, and emergency cash assistance to families in need.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has also set up food kitchens in camps across Maiduguri, offering nutritious cooked rice and beans to affected families. However, resources are quickly depleting, with less than 10% of needs being met.

Arjun Jain, UNHCR’s Representative in Nigeria, spoke Monday about the severity of the crisis.

“Communities that had started to rebuild their lives after years of conflict and violence were struck by the floods and once again displaced,” he told journalists attending the regular UN humanitarian briefing in Geneva.

He urged for immediate action, warning that thousands will face the daunting task of rebuilding when the waters recede.

“When the floodwaters finally recede, thousands of families will face the daunting task of returning to homes that have been destroyed. They will need significant support to rebuild homes, livelihoods, and a sense of normalcy,” said Mr. Jain.

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Nigeria is one of several West African countries facing catastrophic flooding, with millions impacted across the region.

The WFP has been ramping up support in neighbouring countries like Chad, Liberia, Mali, and Niger, while also calling for investments in disaster risk mitigation to prevent future crises.

UNHCR is currently seeking $107.1 million for operations in Nigeria, but by the end of August, only 28% of the appeal had been funded.

In the meantime, the UN said it is working with partners to collect more data to help assess and address the overall needs.

“But we cannot afford to wait,” he warned. “The urgency of this crisis requires immediate action and increased support for flood-affected families, in Maiduguri and elsewhere in Nigeria.”

Mr. Jain said there are currently 3.6 million internally displaced people in Nigeria, mostly in the northeast, and the country hosts almost 100,000 asylum-seekers and refugees.