Maiduguri Flood: One million people affected – Zulum

Borno State governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum, has said a total of 1 million people were affected by the flood which ravaged the state, on Tuesday.

The governor disclosed this to newsmen, while distributing cash and cooked food to displaced persons taking refuge in Bukassi camp, Maiduguri.

He said Health Emergency Committee had been constituted to prevent flood-related epidemics in Maiduguri and Jere city.

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“You can see how water completely flooded the area, sewages were completely flooded, that means waterborne diseases would be transmitted but Insha Allah we should get over it.

“As of now, we are yet to ascertain the extent of damage, but about one fourth of the entire Maiduguri is flooded with water.

“The population affected is up to 1 million, what we are doing this morning is to provide immediate succor, which is good and non food items,” he said.

Zulum explained that a search and rescue team begun operations across affected communities to determine the quantum of loss on lives and property .

“Data would collated of affected persons, immediately,” he added

The governor said he received N3 billion flood intervention fund from the Federal Government and it would be put to use in addressing the challenges faced by the flood victims.

Responding to a question on the cause of the flood, the governor said the situation was compounded by climate change that caused heavy downpour being experienced this season.

He said the flood overwhelmed Alau dam, which overflowed into the city and the water volume released from other dam in Cameroon.

Zulum assured that the Alau Dam would be reconstructed and retrofitted to contain its volume, while illegal structures on waterways and flood prone locations would be demolished.