The United Nations has pledged $6 million to support hundreds of thousands of people displaced by devastating floods in Borno State, Nigeria, where conflict and food insecurity have already left millions vulnerable.
The funds come after the collapse of the Alau Dam on September 10, which forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. Mohammed Fall, Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, made the announcement on Tuesday.
A joint mission comprising UN agencies, NGOs, and the Nigeria Red Cross Society visited Maiduguri over the weekend to assess the damage. According to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the team met with displaced individuals, many of whom had been affected multiple times by conflict and insecurity ¹. The UN is providing hot meals, facilitating air drops of food, and trucking in water to affected areas.
In addition to food and water, the UN is providing water and sanitation hygiene services, water purification tablets, and emergency health and shelter services ¹. The organization is also supplying hygiene and dignity kits to women and girls. However, more assistance is needed, as 32 million people in Nigeria face severe food insecurity.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has opened soup kitchens in three camps to provide nutritious meals to 50,000 displaced individuals ¹. Emmanuel Bigenimana, head of the WFP office in Maiduguri, described the situation as “heartbreaking,” with over 200,000 to 300,000 people displaced and overcrowded in IDP camps.
The flood damage extends beyond Borno State, with 800,000 people affected across 29 states and over 550,000 hectares of cropland flooded ¹. The UN’s food agency requires $147.9 million to support food-insecure people in Nigeria’s northeast over the next six months.
Recovery efforts will take time, and additional resources are necessary to respond to the crisis and support long-term solutions ¹. The Borno State region has faced conflict for a decade, exacerbating the current humanitarian challenges.
