By Jacinta Nwachukwu, with additional report
The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has expressed fear that the recent flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State, may increase food insecurity.
The Commission’s Federal Commissioner, Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, expressed this concern at a media briefing yesterday in Abuja.
Ahmed noted that about 40 per cent of the farmlands in Maiduguri had been submerged ahead of harvest season.
He said the destruction of the crops will likely increase food insecurity, already affecting over a million people.
“The Commission is saddened by the recent catastrophic flooding due to the overflowing of the Alau Dam. Flowing from the needs assessment carried out, many persons have been displaced, some children declared missing, and lives lost.
“Additionally, infrastructural facilities, including bridges, roads, and houses, have been affected, hampering access to hospitals, schools, markets, and other livelihood activities in the affected states,” he said.
He said the Commission would provide food, non-food items, educational materials, WASH, Shelter, drugs, and medical supplies for emergency needs to help those adversely impacted by the flooding.
“The Commission will also ensure the provision of mental health and Psycho-social support to those traumatised populations.
“Equally, the Commission will support the Borno government in providing access to the Commission’s recovery shelter at Amarwa Resettlement City.
“Given the preceding, the commission concluded an immediate palliative arrangement to stabilise the displaced population in Borno,” Ahmed added.
The federal commissioner commiserated with the Borno government and the people and families of flood victims.
He also extended his heartfelt sympathy to the Governments of Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Jigawa, and adjoining states affected by the unfortunate incident.
*NEMA: 414,000 persons affected, 30 deaths
Meanwhile, the severe flooding in Maiduguri has claimed at least 30 lives and forced 414,000 people from their homes, officials said.
“The death toll is 30,” National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) spokesman Ezekiel Manzo told AFP a day after water from an overflowing dam swept away thousands of homes in the capital city of Borno state.
“The situation in Maiduguri is quite frightening,” said Manzo’s NEMA colleague Zubaida Umar.
“The flood has taken over around 40 per cent of the city. People have been forced out of their homes and are scattered everywhere.
“From our statistics, we have 414,000 displaced people,” Umar said. He told the BBC’s Hausa language service officials feared the number could reach one million.
