Refugee Commission begins rollout of palliatives to Borno flood victims – Commissioner

The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has announced an immediate rollout of palliatives to victims of the flooding in Maiduguri, Borno state.

The severe flooding has claimed at least 30 lives, officials said Wednesday.

Hundreds of homes were flooded by the incident, which also caused significant damage to properties, including farmlands, residential areas, and business premises.

The disaster followed the collapse of the Alau Dam, which overflowed its banks, sending floodwaters from about 10 kilometres away into Maiduguri.

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Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, Hon. Tijjani Aliyu Ahmed, said the commission had already put forward some items for onward delivery to the state for distribution to the affected individuals.

“In view of the foregoing, an immediate palliative arrangement has been concluded by the Commission to stabilise the displaced population in Borno State.

“Some of the items are food items and we also have non-food items. We also have WASH, medical supplies and a lot of other interventions,” Ahmed who just returned from an inspection visit to Maiduguri with Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria said.

While disclosing that the commission lacks data to declare the specific number of those affected, he said profiling of victims was ongoing.

He said it was the mandate of the NCFRMI to ensure protection, assistance, care, maintenance and rehabilitation as well as provision of durable solutions to those displaced by climate change-induced disasters.

“We will provide food, non-food items, educational materials, WASH, shelter, drugs and medical supplies for emergency needs in order to bring succour to those adversely impacted by the flooding.

“The Commission will also ensure the provision of mental health and Psycho-social support to those traumatized populations. Equally, the Commission will support the Borno State Government in providing access to the Commission’s recovery shelter at Amarwa Resettlement City.

“Lastly, in order to prevent the re-occurrence of this unfortunate incident in the future, the Commission will liaise with relevant stakeholders to organize advocacy on the need to educate households to ensure the clearing of drainage lines to allow for seamless flow of water within the Maiduguri metropolis and other communities,” he said.