The capital of Borno State is currently experiencing a serious emergency due to the floods. We have managed to secure patients at our malnutrition centre and are intervening with food distribution to displaced families.
In north-east Nigeria, Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, is facing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster caused by the worst flooding the city has seen in 30 years. Caused by the overflowing of the Alau dam, the flood inundated entire communities, destroyed crucial infrastructure, and forced more than 400,000 people from their homes. Of these, 100,000 live in overcrowded informal camps, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
At least 30 people have lost their lives as a result of the floods, and the death toll is expected to rise as many areas remain inaccessible. Families have not only lost their homes but also their livelihoods: entire cultivated fields have been washed away, exacerbating the already severe food insecurity in the region.
Contaminated water sources, flooded sewage systems, and disrupted burial grounds have increased the risk of deadly epidemics. The displaced population, crammed into makeshift camps, lives in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, with limited access to food, clean water, and healthcare. The risk of water-borne diseases increases, while thousands of families lack adequate shelter or necessities. For many, survival hangs by a thread.
INTERSOS in Nigeria was one of the first organisations to intervene, providing life-saving aid to the population despite great difficulties. The flood flooded our Malnutrition Stabilisation Centre, a critical facility where we provide care for the most vulnerable children in the region. INTERSOS staff managed to safely evacuate all the children, caregivers, and staff, ensuring that care could continue uninterrupted in another safe location and providing timely treatment for the malnourished children.
Despite limited resources, our staff worked tirelessly during the night of 11 September, providing thousands of people with emergency food and, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), we have started distributing hot meals to displaced families in these hours.
We are currently in close contact with institutions, major donors, and actors on the ground to try to mobilise additional resources to help the population.
The situation is deteriorating rapidly every day. The people of Maiduguri, who have endured years of conflict and instability, are now facing a humanitarian crisis that could push them beyond their limits.