Severe Consequences of Floods in Nigeria
Severe Consequences of Floods in Nigeria
Brianna Millican
Staff Writer
In early September, Nigeria’s Benue State faced dangerous flash floods, destroying farms and homes, and displacing thousands of residents. Heavy rains have damaged 30 of Nigeria’s 36 states over the past month, killing 269 people and forcing 640,000 people from their homes, reports Save the Children. The states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) were also greatly impacted by the floods. These areas are prone to flooding because of the heavy rainfalls, lack of effective infrastructure, and the breaking of the Lagdo dam. According to Reuters, Nigeria previously experienced deadly floods in 2022 because of the aforementioned factors and now is experiencing them again due to the government’s lack of planning. The floodwaters are finally starting to recede, showing the extent of the damage to farms and homes in the affected areas. The Displacement Tracking Matrix has discovered a large population of vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, elderly couples, and children who have been displaced and have no resources to improve their situation.
The consequences of the flooding damaged structures, farms, and displaced people. The destruction of farmland in the Benue State and BAY states not only leaves thousands of farmers without a form of income but has various negative impacts on the economy and Nigerian citizens, as well. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), five million people face critical food insecurity in the BAY states due to flood damage to croplands at the height of the lean season. BAY residents rely on the food from their local farms to survive. An unsuccessful harvest creates a “domino effect” of hardships for the residents. It leads to inflation and an increase in food prices, making it more difficult for vulnerable populations to survive in an already unfair economy. Children’s safety is at risk in the aftermath of a large natural disaster due to the destruction and closure of schools. Save the Children reports that millions of children will be exposed to a higher risk of child labor, early marriage, and other forms of abuse and are more likely to be trapped in a cycle of poverty in the long term. The flood has left Nigerians without proper sanitation healthcare services, leading to an increased risk of disease outbreaks, like cholera. OCHA has already reported cholera outbreaks in the Borno and Yobe regions.
Flooding in the Benue and BAY states is an annual occurrence, yet each year the flooding becomes worse and affects more populations across Nigeria. The past month has left global agencies to wonder what measures can be taken to prevent such a large amount of destruction from happening again. Recently, humanitarian cash payment programs have been created to support Nigerians affected by natural disasters while they spend the next few months rebuilding. According to Al Jazeera, those residing in flood-prone areas are allowed to receive money from cash payment programs before the floods hit to help communities brace for the aftershock by stocking up on household goods or whatever else they choose to buy. Additionally, Alex Diaz, the head of Artificial Intelligence for Social Good, and his team have been brainstorming different ways to understand and anticipate future natural disasters using AI tools and systems, states Al Jazeera. The hope is that these systems and programs will be an effective way to prevent immense damage from occurring each year in the Benue and BAY states. The Nigerian government has failed to provide sufficient support to citizens affected by the floods each year. Now, the country must rely on the help of global humanitarian aid programs to rebuild their communities.
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