Humanitarian efforts are underway in northeast Nigeria to help those affected by the collapse of the Alau Dam, which led to massive flooding in the area, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
The dam collapse, situated just over 10 miles south of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, occurred during the night on Tuesday, displacing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.
Emmanuel Bigenimana, the head of WFP’s office in Maiduguri, conducted a rapid assessment of the damage and needs by flying over the city in a UNHAS helicopter dispatched by WFP.
He described the scene as “heartbreaking,” with homes, infrastructure, roads, schools, and hospitals submerged by water, leaving over 200,000 to 300,000 displaced people in overcrowded IDP camps and on the streets.
WFP reported that the dam collapse resulted in 50% of Maiduguri being overrun by river water, prompting evacuation orders from state authorities and a call for humanitarian support.
WFP has opened soup kitchens in three camps to provide hot meals to 50,000 of the most affected individuals until more assistance can be provided.
This crisis compounds existing challenges faced by the region, including a decade-long conflict, food inflation, and skyrocketing prices, leading to food insecurity for millions of people.
The impact of extreme weather is felt nationwide, with 800,000 people in 29 states affected by floods, resulting in over 550,000 hectares of flooded cropland.
As of March this year, 32 million people in Nigeria were already experiencing acute hunger, with WFP requiring $147.9 million to support food-insecure individuals in the northeast over the next six months.
Recovery for the flood-affected populations in Maiduguri will be a long process, requiring more resources to save lives, respond to the crises, and plan for long-term recovery and solutions.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.