The Federal Government of Nigeria has appealed to Nigerians to clear their canals, drainages and gutters to mitigate floods.
In a report published by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) , Nigerians were urged to clear canals, drainages, and gutters to mitigate the potential impact of floods as the surface water levels at the country’s critical stations along the River Benue are steadily increasing, raising concerns about flood levels.
According to the statement signed by Head Media and Publicity, Lauretta Samuel, as of Saturday, the rise continues but at flood preparedness level.
Samuel urged the twelve flood-prone states earlier warned by NIHSA to put measures in place to contain or allow conveyance.
This is coming after the recent overflow in the Alau Dam which has caused significant flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State, displacing over 600,000 people and triggering a health crisis.
The flooding has submerged hospitals and increased the risk of disease outbreaks due to contaminated water, poor sanitation, and overcrowding in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
The Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD) has warned in a statement, of a high risk of cholera, typhoid, and dysentery in the IDP camps.
To this wise, CASFOD is providing urgent relief, including clean drinking water, health services, and hygiene items to the affected families as the floods have also devastated the city, resulting in at least 30 deaths and severely impacting the livestock and agricultural sectors.
“CASFOD and Pam Care community initiative are providing urgent relief, including clean drinking water, health services, and hygiene items to displaced families in IDP camps,” the statement reads.
It added, “With more resources, we aim to address immediate health and sanitation needs and help flood-affected families regain stability. Over 70 per cent of vulnerable families benefiting from their livestock livelihood programme have lost livestock, exacerbating the crisis. Collective efforts are essential to prevent further suffering and ensure a swift recovery for Borno State’s most vulnerable populations.”
In response to the crisis, the Borno government has commenced fumigation as floodwaters recede in Maiduguri to contain the possibility of disease outbreaks. However, farmlands and roads in the outskirts of Maiduguri continue to be ravaged by the flood, leading to the cutting-off of major roads.
Abdurrahman Bundi, the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Babagana Zulum on New Media, made this known while briefing newsmen at the flood disaster situation room in Maiduguri.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the governor’s aid said the exercise was going on in earnest as displaced persons return home.
Bundi said the measure was to contain the possibility of an outbreak related to the devastating floods that affected sewage systems and other dangerous items.
“About 15 major areas have been fumigated, including hospitals, correctional service quarters, fire service quarters and parts of Gwange and Shehuri wards,” he said.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), a medical support organization, has also expressed concerns about the potential increase in malnutrition levels, as well as the rise in cases of malaria and acute watery diarrhoea following the flood disaster. They have called for urgent additional support, particularly in water, sanitation, and medical care to protect the affected population.
MSF, in a statement released over the weekend, revealed that “There is also fear that this crisis could increase the levels of malnutrition in the area.”
It, therefore, called for urgent additional support, especially in terms of water, sanitation, and medical care, to protect people already impacted by long-term insecurity and unprecedented levels of malnutrition.
Read Also: Shettima Unveils Comprehensive roadmap to combat flood disasters
“We are very concerned about the precarious living conditions and the potential outbreaks of cholera and malaria,” says Dr Issaley Kader, MSF Head of Mission in Nigeria.
Dr Issaley added, “We are afraid that the number of cases will rise without the increase of medical and humanitarian support, especially regarding water, sanitation and hygiene.”
Last week, MSF teams went to several displacement sites (Galtimari, Yerwa, Ali Sheriff, Vocational Enterprise Institute, Teachers Village) to assess people’s needs and start the provision of essential services, such as access to water through water trucking and water tanks, the installation and repair of latrines, and the distribution of mosquito nets.
Teams are also running outpatient consultations in the sites, including mental health support, and referring critical patients to the facilities we support.
Given the risks posed by malaria and cholera, MSF is also planning to expand the paediatric facility it supports by 100 beds, to meet the demand of the likely increase in malaria cases.
Teams have begun setting up a cholera treatment centre that can be increased to a 100-bed capacity if needed.
The Borno State government has announced the closure and merging of most displacement sites in the coming days as they plan to keep three main sites to accommodate people who still have no place to stay for one more week, and a mass cholera vaccination is upcoming.
The MSF Head of Mission stressed that “All parties involved in the humanitarian response must continue assisting the people affected by the floods as long as it will be necessary and ensure immediate and easy access to medical care for those who need it.”
