News in Brief:
– The flood in Borno State has caused widespread damage, leading to food insecurity and malnutrition for millions.
– Tinubu’s administration has provided food aid but international assistance is needed to address the urgent needs of the affected population.
The devastating flood that recently wreaked havoc in Maiduguri, Borno State, has left over 5 million people facing severe food insecurity, according to an international relief publication. The deluge, caused by the collapse of the Alau Dam, also destroyed an estimated 70,500 hectares of cropland.
The flood has displaced thousands of families and caused widespread damage to infrastructure.
Alau Dam: a history of failures
The Alau Dam, built in 1986, was initially designed to provide irrigation to farmlands and as a menas of flood control. However, its history is marred by structural failures that have had severe consequences.
Prior to the 2024 floods, the dam had already breached twice, in 1994 and 2012, leading to widespread flooding and damage. The most recent one has ganered attention on social media with several distrubing videos making rounds.
Meantime, at least 44,000 children under five, including 7,700 with severe acute malnutrition and 18,100 with moderate acute malnutrition, require urgent nutrition assistance.
Also, a further 24,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, are affected by nutritional challenges. The flood has disrupted food production and access to essential nutrition services, making these vulnerable populations particularly at risk.
Threat to food security
Effectively, the flood has submerged vast areas of farmland, rendering crops unusable and jeopardising the food security of millions. The situation is especially dire in rural areas, where many communities have been cut off from essential supplies.
Consequently, the Borno State Emergency Management Agency has warned of worsening conditions due to expected rainfall. They have appealed for urgent humanitarian aid to provide food, shelter, and medical care to the affected population.
The flood has further exacerbated the lean season, typically occurring between harvests when reduced food availability causes seasonal scarcity, increasing the risk of food shortages and hunger.
Additionally, the flood disaster has worsened the challenges faced by Borno State, which is already grappling with a decade-long insurgency. The conflict has displaced millions and destroyed infrastructure, leaving communities vulnerable to shocks like floods.
Federal government provides food relief to affected communities
In response to the ongoing crisis, the federal government has announced the allocation of 100 trucks of food aid to assist affected communities.
According to information made available by the country’s minister of agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the relief package includes 50 trucks of maize, 30 trucks of sorghum, and 20 trucks of millet.
These items are expected to reach those in need, an initiative targeting urgent food security concerns arising from the devastating floods and other challenges facing the region.
However, the scale of the disaster is immense, and the government still requires international assistance to meet the needs of the affected population.
