UN Pledges Fast-Track Assistance To Help Borno Flood Victims Recover

Following the devastating floods that displaced thousands in Maiduguri, Borno State, the United Nations and various humanitarian organizations have pledged urgent relief for the affected communities.

In a statement released on Sunday by Oluseyi Soremekun, National Information Officer of the UN Information Centre, the UN emphasized its commitment to providing immediate support.

The floods, which began on September 9, have worsened the already dire humanitarian crisis in Borno State, leaving thousands without homes.

Ireporteronline earlier reported that the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engineer Joseph Utsev, revealed that the recent severe flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State, was caused by an overflow of the Ngadda River, not the collapse of the Alau Dam as initially suspected.

A high-level delegation, led by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, visited Maiduguri on Saturday.

The team included representatives from UN agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

They met with local residents, officials, and Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, to assess the situation and coordinate relief efforts.

“The flood-affected people are facing a crisis within a crisis, as the floods occurred during a severe food insecurity and malnutrition crisis.

“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,” Fall stated.

The flooding, considered the worst in 30 years, compounded the struggles of a population already facing displacement due to conflict and insecurity.

Thousands of people, already vulnerable, have been forced into overcrowded temporary shelters, lacking access to food, clean water, and shelter.

During their visit, officials inspected two of the 25 relocation sites, including Asheik Jarma Primary School and Yerwa GGSS, where flood victims have been housed.

The delegation promised swift intervention, including the delivery of food, clean water, sanitation facilities, and emergency shelters.

The floods have also devastated agricultural production in the region, with over 125,000 hectares of farmland destroyed nationwide, just ahead of the harvest season.

Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states have been especially impacted, with 4.8 million people facing severe food shortages, and 230,000 children at risk of acute malnutrition.

Food prices have tripled in the past year due to inflation, and the destruction of crops is expected to exacerbate the already critical food security situation.

In response, the UN and its partners have launched emergency aid measures, including airlifting food to hard-to-reach areas, trucking in clean water, and distributing hygiene kits to prevent disease outbreaks.

To further support the relief efforts, Fall announced an initial allocation of $6 million from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund, with additional contributions set to bring the total to over $8 million.

Governor Zulum expressed his gratitude for the international assistance, particularly the use of UN helicopters to deliver life-saving supplies to communities isolated by the floods.

He emphasized the state’s commitment to quickly rebuilding the lives of displaced people, ensuring that temporary shelters will not house them for more than two weeks.

“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.

“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,” Governor Zulum said.

However, the need for aid continues to grow. Despite the UN’s efforts, only 46 percent of the $927 million required for Nigeria’s Humanitarian Response Plan has been secured.

As floods continue to ravage other states like Bauchi, Enugu, and Bayelsa, the UN has called for additional resources to address the escalating crisis.