As search and rescue continue in Maiduguri and other affected parts of Borno State following recent flooding, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has announced that ten Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps have been set up for temporary shelter while emergency workers battle to prevent further escalation of the humanitarian crisis.

Executive Director of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, stated that rescue equipment has been deployed to flood-affected states, and food and non-food items are being provided to affected persons.

She made these comments at a National Emergency Coordination Forum meeting to discuss progress, provide updates on the flood situation, review the ongoing search and rescue efforts in Maiduguri, as well as assign roles and responsibilities to all stakeholders for effective coordination.

According to Umar, the current trend of floods in the country “is not a total deviation from the predictions contained in this year’s Annual Flood Outlook (AFLO) by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), which indicated that from July to September 2024, 33 states and 135 LGAs (Local Government Areas) are within flood high-risk areas, while the period between October and November has 19 states and 44 LGAs.”

She said, “The current trend of flooding indicates that 29 states and 172 LGAs have been impacted by flooding, affecting 1,048,312 people, displacing 625,239, and leading to the loss of 259 lives.

“It is pertinent to note that flood predictions for this year had earlier been disseminated to various stakeholders by NEMA and other government agencies responsible for this task. Though the flooding may not be totally prevented, efforts are being made to mitigate the impact to the barest minimum.”

To further complement ongoing efforts, the agency said it is providing additional relief interventions in the forms of medical consumables and medicaments, additional water purifiers, additional naval disaster response, in-depth damage and loss assessment, inflatable boats, and life jackets, among others.

With emergency workers battling to save the stranded, provide temporary shelter, food, and clean water, available statistics from NEMA show that the largest IDP camps include Bakassi, with 14,256 individuals; followed by Gubio with 12,210; Yerwa with 9,438; Dalori with 8,304; and Ashiek Jarma with 5,844.