Extreme floods test survival and resilience in a conflict-ridden part of Nigeria
By Una Brosnan
#Fatima’s escape: Displaced and immobile
"Three people helped me escape the floods," said Fatima Umar, a mother of three with a severe disability. Fatima and her children were at home on 10 September when the Alau dam collapsed, triggering flooding across the main towns of Borno State, in north-east Nigeria. The dam collapsed following extreme rains, which are now common due to climate change.
Unable to flee due to her disability, Fatima and her children were rescued by their neighbours. They were relocated to Teachers Village, a temporary shelter for displaced families in Maiduguri.
The flooding was the worst Maiduguri has seen in 30 years. It submerged homes, killed at least 30 people and displaced nearly 400,000 others. It affected Maiduguri Metropolitan Council as well as Jere and Konduga local Government areas.
“My home is destroyed, and my family’s survival now depends on getting food and a wheelchair so that I can move again," Fatima shared. She has since been referred to a disability working group for assistance.
The group’s coordinator, Oghenetega Ideh, said: “Although our resources are limited, we will address Fatima’s immediate needs. However, we urgently need more support to provide adequate help to several vulnerable families like hers.”
The floods have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Borno State, the epicentre of a conflict involving various non-State armed groups that has persisted for more than a decade. Many flood-affected people had already relocated due to the conflict.
#Moda’s loss: Displaced, without a livelihood
Moda Fannami also lost everything when the floodwaters swept through his neighbourhood. A father of five, he managed to evacuate with his family to Teachers Village. Before the flood, Moda sold charcoal, salt and other essentials, all of which were swept away.
A week after arriving at the temporary shelter, he had received food only twice, despite having a disability card.
“I’ve been getting by, thanks to the kindness of others,” he said, though it was clear that the struggle for food and daily essentials weighs heavily on him.
#Ya’hajja, displaced and unwell
Ya’hajja Umar, a mother of four, waited for treatment at the newly established UNICEF Clinic at Teachers Village.
She recalled the terrifying moment when the floodwaters surged into her home on 10 September. In the chaos of evacuating, she was separated from her husband and one of their children. Ya’hajja and her three children are now staying at the shelter, but food is scarce.
She explained: “I found it very difficult to breastfeed my baby because we receive very little food here; I feel weak and dizzy myself.”
Ya’hajja has not seen her husband and their child since they separated, but she spoke with them on the phone once and learned they were safe in another shelter. But she is worried, as she’s not heard from them since.
“My hope now is to reunite with my husband and son, and also get food for all of us,” she shared.
#Floods reduce food security, increase cholera
The floods have exacerbated food insecurity across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, where about 4.8 million people face hunger, according to the March 2024 Government-led Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis.
The Food and Agriculture Organization reported that the floods damaged 111,154 hectares of farmland, leading to an estimated loss of 166, 731 metric tons of food. About 5 million people required urgent assistance until October 2024 due to acute food insecurity.
Recent flooding also disrupted sanitation systems and contaminated water sources, leading to major cholera outbreaks, with 1,200 cases reported across north-eastern states. Urgent interventions are needed to address the limited supply of medicines, hospital beds, clean water and sanitation services to prevent further spread of disease.
#Response and recovery efforts
As disaster struck, the Borno State Government and the State Emergency Management Agency activated their emergency protocols and established temporary shelters for displaced people. These are now consolidated to better manage the situation and ensure that public facilities, such as schools, return to their intended purpose. The State Government is working with humanitarian partners to provide life-saving food, water, shelter, medical services, non-food items and other urgent assistance for people in need.
However, limited funding is constraining the scale of support provided. As the transition into the early recovery phase begins, the restoration of basic services, including schools, primary health care, water facilities and other critical infrastructure, will be prioritized.
OCHA’s Climate Science and Practice Lead, Zinta Zommers, said: “In the long-term, it is critical to also address underlying causes of vulnerability and help build [people’s] resilience to climate shocks, for example by investing in early warning systems, strengthening ageing infrastructure and limiting construction on flood-prone areas.”
#A call for a second chance
The flood response and the Humanitarian Response Plan for north-east Nigeria remain massively underfunded. As of 29 October 2024, the plan has received about US$517 million of the $926 million required. Urgent support is needed to bridge this gap so that humanitarians can give a second chance to Fatima, Modu, Ya’hajja and other people caught in a crisis fuelled by climate change and conflict.