Following the devastating floods in Maiduguri and Jere, Borno State, many displaced residents have resorted to setting up makeshift tents for shelter after government officials shut down some emergency camps.
The floods, triggered by the collapse of the Alau Dam spillway on November 10, caused extensive destruction, leaving numerous households displaced.
According to Dr Usman Tar, the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, the floods displaced at least 30,000 households, affecting 600,000 people across the cities.
Initially, the state government established several camps to accommodate displaced persons. However, as water levels began to recede, the authorities closed some camps and asked the displaced residents to return to their homes.
Many survivors said their homes remain uninhabitable, leading them to set up temporary shelters on dry land.
The state government said it only closed camps operating in schools to avoid disrupting the school calendar and learning activities in the state.
Displaced persons affected by the closure have erected makeshift tents in areas like Muna, Gambarou, Custom, and Old Maiduguri, where they continue to seek refuge.
A 60-year-old flood victim, Malam Yusuf Aliyu, recounted his experience as he pitched a tent on the road at 505 Housing Estate, saying, “I lived in this neighbourhood since I was a child and have never seen a disaster like this.”
Concerned about the structural integrity of surrounding buildings, he said his family warned him to avoid walking close to them as many were severely cracked and at risk of collapse.
“We need a safe place to live, so we pitched a mosquito net tent on the street,” he explained.
Another survivor, Babagana Jibrin from Old Maiduguri, shared a similar plight. He had been staying in a government camp at Government College, Maiduguri before it was shut down ahead of the school’s resumption.
“We were given cash and food to return home and wait for a relief committee to assess my collapsed house. I don’t have anywhere to go now. That’s why I set up tents,” he said.
Women like Iya Baba Alasan and her seven children have sought refuge in makeshift shelters and mosques.
Sitting outside her ruined home in Gwange ward, Iya salvaged what she could, including a few dishes and a stove to cook their only meal in a dirty space surrounded by gutters.
“We are homeless. The majority of the women you see on this street are now sleeping inside that mosque, and we all cook in the open as you can see,” she said.
The desperation in her hungry family was palpable as they waited eagerly for a simple meal of “Danwake,” which would serve as their breakfast, lunch and dinner.
In the flood-affected areas, buildings are either collapsed or severely damaged, leaving many residents reluctant to sleep inside even the relatively intact structures.
Malam Usman Hassan, whose home sustained minimal damage, explained, “We couldn’t risk sleeping inside because it is too wet and cold for children, and the walls might collapse.”
His wife and children were among the many women now living in overcrowded mosques.
“We were soaked in the early morning rain today, and things get harder when night falls. There’s no electricity, no privacy,” he added.
Our correspondent reports that collapsed septic systems, latrines and toilets in the area pose significant health risks, particularly for children and the elderly.
Despite the state’s efforts, including the establishment of a relief committee, the scale of assistance needed seems overwhelming.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Monday, inaugurated a 35-member committee tasked with distributing relief packages to the flood victims.
Borno records 40 suspected cholera cases, 2 confirmed
Meanwhile, the Borno State government has reported 40 suspected cases of cholera, with two confirmed cases, following the recent floods that affected major parts of Maiduguri.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Baba Mallam Gana, stated this during the flag-off of an integrated campaign for oral cholera vaccination, measles immunisation, and vitamin A supplementation in Maiduguri on Monday.
He emphasised the critical role of vaccinations in saving children’s lives and securing their futures, especially in flood-prone areas and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
In response to the flood and potential health risks, he said the Borno State government has established two children’s hospitals in Maiduguri and has urged residents to prioritise personal hygiene as floodwaters recede into rivers Yedzaram and Ngadda.
UNICEF’s Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Christina Maya-Alfirev, warned of potential disease outbreaks, stressing the importance of vaccination in preventing further harm, particularly from cholera and measles.
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