Heavy rains have devastated 30 of the country’s 36 states, the UN refugee agency said. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, speak on Tuesday.
The government has reported 269 deaths so far, while more than one million people have been affected and more than 640,000 are now displaced.
Big Break
Nigeria is one of several West African countries hit by heavy rains that have caused devastating floods, affecting millions of people across the region.
The northeastern town of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state and a major humanitarian hub, is at the heart of the crisis here.
Heavy rains caused the nearby Alau Dam to burst, causing severe flooding that has displaced more than 400,000 people in recent days.
Half of Maiduguri was flooded and most residents lost everything. Many were displaced by conflict or the impacts of climate change.
Moved again
The floods have exacerbated displacement, food insecurity and economic hardship in previous years, with catastrophic consequences, said UNHCR representative in Nigeria, Arjun Jain.
“Communities, after years of conflict and violence, have begun to rebuild their lives that have been hit by floods and displaced once again.”, he told journalists attending the regular UN humanitarian briefing in Geneva.
Support for families
In response to the crisis, UNHCR and partners have been working tirelessly to support those affected.
Staff provided tarpaulins, blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets and other essential items. Emergency cash grants were also given to single-parent households, people with disabilities and families with young children to help them buy food and other essentials.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (World Food Programme) has set up kitchens in four camps in Maiduguri where families can receive nutritious meals of rice and beans.
WFP is ramping up assistance across West Africa, where torrential rains have caused catastrophic flooding affecting more than four million people in 14 countries.
The agency is providing emergency cash and food aid to people in hard-hit areas of Chad, Liberia, Mali and Niger.
At the same time, WFP is calling for investment in early warning systems, disaster risk financing and other measures to help reduce flood and climate risks.
Urgent action needed
Back in Nigeria, however, UNHCR warns that supplies there are rapidly running out, meaning the agency can only meet less than 10 percent of urgent needs.
“When the flood waters finally receded, Thousands of families will face the difficult task of returning to their destroyed homes.“They will need significant support to rebuild their homes, livelihoods and regain a sense of normalcy,” said Mr. Jain.
Meanwhile, the United Nations and partners are collecting more data to help assess and address shared needs.
“But we can’t wait any longer”, he warned. “The urgency of this crisis requires immediate action and increased support for flood-affected families, in Maiduguri and elsewhere in Nigeria.”
There are currently 3.6 million internally displaced people in Nigeria, mostly in the northeast, and the country is hosting nearly 100,000 asylum seekers and refugees, Mr Jain said.
UNHCR is seeking $107.1 million for operations there this year, but he said as of late August the appeal had received only 28 percent of the funding.
