Borno, in the northeast of Nigeria, is home to the rebel group Boko Haram. The inhabitants of this area have already suffered greatly in recent years. The natural disaster has now added to that. Many people who were already vulnerable have now lost everything.
Flooding Nigeria: ZOA provides relief
More than 200,000 people in northeastern Nigeria have lost everything due to severe flooding in September. ZOA was able to provide immediate relief and is now helping affected families rebuild their lives.
10 October 2024
ZOA supports affected people
Immediate relief after floods in Nigeria
Torrential rains caused the Alau Dam to burst during the night of 9 to 10 September, causing the city of Maiduguri to be largely flooded. ZOA immediately began providing relief in the area.
“The needs are huge,” says Antony Caleesious, director of ZOA in Nigeria. ZOA has been active in Borno for a long time; the head office is in Maiduguri. The homes of three employees of ZOA in Nigeria were heavily damaged due to the floods.
“Because we were already in the area, we were able to start providing meals very quickly after the devastating flooding,” says Antony. ZOA set up a kitchen in the Gubion refugee camp. About 10,000 people are staying there. This direct action was made possible by donations from donors in the Netherlands, he says. “We immediately received 50,000 euros to get started.”
ZOA was able to provide cooked meals from the kitchen for the entire camp, partly thanks to support from the World Food Programme. “None of this would have been possible without the initial support from the Netherlands,” says Antony. “We are extremely grateful for that.”
Long term
In addition to providing direct food aid, ZOA also sees the need to help affected families rebuild their lives. The government of Borno State is making efforts to quickly provide people with housing again. However, this process will probably take longer than expected, says Antony.
“The affected areas remain contaminated, posing serious health risks to those who return home, if there are any left. There is also an urgent need for sanitation and access to clean water to prevent disease outbreaks.” ZOA is therefore committed to promoting hygiene in refugee camps and is also working to clean up polluted water sources.
Many people lost their property and sources of income due to the floods. ZOA therefore wants to support them in rebuilding their lives, says Antony. “This support will be vital to help families regain their stability and ensure their resilience in the long term.”