- The team pledged swift action
Officials from the United Nations and humanitarian organisations have visited Maiduguri to assess the impact of devastating floods in the region.
The delegation, led by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, included international and national NGOs.
They arrived in Borno State’s capital on Saturday to evaluate the situation following the Alau Dam disaster.
In a statement on Sunday, Oluseyi Soremekun, the National Information Officer for the UN Information Centre, said the team met with affected residents, local officials, and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum to assess the damage and outline immediate aid.
“The flood victims are facing a crisis within a crisis, as the disaster struck during a time of severe food insecurity and malnutrition,” Fall said, adding that the floods have destroyed homes, businesses, and infrastructure, exacerbating the hardships of vulnerable communities.
The team pledged swift action, promising to provide food, clean water, sanitation facilities, and shelter to those displaced. They noted that many flood-affected families had already been displaced by conflict and insecurity, making them even more vulnerable.
Floodwaters have displaced more than one million people in and around Maiduguri, a key hub for humanitarian operations in northeast Nigeria. The disaster, described as the worst flooding in 30 years, followed the bursting of a dam after torrential rains over the weekend.
Barkindo Mohammed, Director General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said the number of displaced could rise to one million. Meanwhile, at least 30 people have been reported dead, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Among the victims is Mohammed Sheriff, 60, who fled his home with his family as floodwaters surged. Tragically, his two eldest children, aged 11 and 13, are still missing. “We fear the worst,” Sheriff told AFP.r
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