In Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state, thousands affected by devastating floods are facing lengthy delays in accessing medical care, as aid organizations warn of a looming waterborne disease crisis. The floods, considered the worst in 30 years, have left more than 30 people dead and affected around one million residents, most of whom are currently in camps lacking basic necessities like food and clean water.
The floods have not only worsened living conditions for the displaced but have also put immense pressure on government resources and humanitarian agencies, deepening an already dire humanitarian emergency in the region.
The disaster began when a dam burst after heavy rainfall, leading to floods that spread across the Lake Chad basin, including parts of Cameroon, Chad, Mali, and Niger. These countries, located in Africa’s usually dry Sahel region, have also been grappling with floods due to unusually heavy rainfall. The United Nations reports that the floods displaced over 1.5 million people in the last two weeks of August, resulting in approximately 465 deaths across 12 countries in West and Central Africa.
In Borno, where an additional 50,000 people were displaced over the weekend, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) warned of the compounded effects of conflict, displacement, and climate change in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions. “The situation is becoming increasingly dire for vulnerable populations,” said Hassane Hamadou, NRC’s regional director for Central and West Africa.
While Europe is also facing severe flooding, the crisis in West Africa has created a particularly harsh reality for displaced people in camps. In Maiduguri, Borno’s capital, Bintu Amadu has been waiting for hours with her sick child, seeking medical help. “We haven’t received any aid, and we’ve been waiting for medical attention since yesterday, but nothing yet,” she said.
Another resident, Ramatu Yajubu, expressed relief at finally getting an appointment card after days of waiting but added, “I’m not sure when I’ll actually receive treatment, as there are too many people here needing care.”
Medecins Sans Frontieres field coordinator, Mathias Goemaere, noted that even before the flooding, the residents of Borno were already struggling with malnutrition due to the long-standing insurgency. The flooding has exacerbated the situation, leaving many vulnerable to waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea and malaria. “Because of malnutrition, a lot of people have weakened immune systems, making them more prone to diseases,” Goemaere explained.
In addition to the immediate crisis in Borno, Nigeria’s government has also issued a warning about rising water levels in the country’s largest rivers, the Benue and Niger, which may lead to further flooding in the southern oil-producing Niger Delta region.
