ROMA – After the recent floods that hit several areas of Maiduguri, in the state of Borno in Nigeria, the teams of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) are gravely concerned about the spread of malaria and other waterborne diseases, such as cholera, and a possible worsening of malnutrition levels in the area. MSF calls for further urgent support, especially the provision of drinking water, sanitation and medical care, to protect the population already living in conditions of severe insecurity and unprecedented levels of malnutrition.
The disastrous overflows. On September 10, heavy rains caused the Alau Dam in Borno state to overflow, causing severe flooding in and around the city of Maiduguri, heavily affecting homes, markets, fields, livestock and several health facilities. According to local authorities, almost 400 thousand people have been displaced in informal centres, mainly former schools, without drinking water and with an insufficient number of latrines.
Many, many children affected by cholera and diarrhea. “We are very concerned about the precarious living conditions and the risk of cholera and malaria epidemics” says Dr. Issaley Abdel Kader, MSF head of mission in Nigeria. “The number of children suffering from malaria and acute watery diarrhea was already increasing before the floods and since then we have also seen some cases with cholera symptoms. We fear that the number may increase without an increase in the medical-humanitarian response, especially regarding water sanitization and the presence of toilets.”
MSF staff among the displaced. In recent weeks, MSF teams have gone to several sites where displaced people have concentrated (Galtimari, Yerwa, Ali Sheriff, Vocational Enterprise Institute, Teachers Village) to assess needs and initiate adequate provision of essential services such as distribution of water via tankers and tanks, installation and repair of latrines and distribution of mosquito nets.
The work of operators in clinics. Teams are also managing outpatient consultations in the area, including psychological support, and are directing critical patients to better-equipped facilities. Given the risk posed by malaria or cholera, MSF is also planning to add 100 beds in the local pediatric facility where it offers support, to address the increase in malaria cases. The teams have also started setting up a cholera treatment center which can be expanded to 100 beds if necessary.
Three sites to host the homeless. The Borno State Government has announced the closure and amalgamation of most displacement areas, which will take place in the next few days. The plan is to keep three main sites active to house homeless people, and promptly start a mass vaccination against cholera.
The final blow of the floods. Community support will not only be needed at new displacement sites. Well before the floods, the entire population of Maiduguri was already facing enormous challenges, including one of the worst malnutrition crises recorded in northeast Nigeria. In short, the floods were the classic “coup de grace”. In recent months, hundreds of severely malnourished children have been admitted to MSF’s nutrition hospital every week. This is the second time in a few weeks that MSF has launched an emergency response to floods in Northern Nigeria. In August in Gummi, Zamfara state, homes and farms were destroyed and thousands of people were displaced by severe flooding.
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– 2024-09-28 22:13:32
