Major floods affect Nigeria and Niger; hundreds of thousands of people displaced
Major floods have caused disasters in central and western African countries, including Nigeria and Niger, affecting hundreds of thousands of people and causing extensive damage.
In Nigeria, more than one million people in 15 states have been affected, with the northern and northeastern regions suffering the most. Entire communities, health centers, schools, and farms are submerged. Borno state in the north-east, which is known for being attacked by armed militia groups, has seen 400,000 people displaced from their homes due to floods.
At the same time, the residents of Maiduguri are facing an increased risk of malaria and diseases caused by contaminated water, such as cholera. Heavy rains on September 10 caused the Alau dam in Borno to overflow, causing severe flooding.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has stepped up its humanitarian efforts by providing more aid to flood victims across West Africa. The floods have badly affected Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, causing hundreds of deaths and extensive damage to infrastructure.
