Devastating Floods Displace Over 640,000 in Nigeria, Humanitarian Response Urgently Needed

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and its humanitarian partners are working around the clock to provide life-saving relief to the displaced.

Heavy rains have ravaged 30 of Nigeria’s 36 states, leaving a trail of destruction across the country. According to government reports, over a million people have been impacted, with 269 lives tragically lost and more than 640,000 people displaced from their homes.

The town of Maiduguri, a key humanitarian hub in the northeast, has been hit hardest by the crisis. A breach in the Alau Dam, located about 20 kilometres away, has displaced over 400,000 people in recent days, submerging half of Maiduguri and leaving most residents with nothing. Many of those displaced were already affected by conflict or the climate crisis before the floods.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and its humanitarian partners are working around the clock to provide life-saving relief to the displaced. Emergency supplies such as tarpaulins, blankets, mosquito nets, and sleeping mats are being distributed, and cash assistance is being provided to vulnerable families, including single-parent households, people with disabilities, and families with young children.

However, resources are rapidly depleting, with less than 10% of the urgent needs being met. The floods have worsened an already dire situation, compounding years of prior displacement, food insecurity, and economic hardship. Many communities, who had begun rebuilding their lives after years of conflict, now find themselves displaced once again, seeking shelter in overcrowded schools and camps.

These conditions have led to a rise in gender-based violence, which requires immediate intervention. Protection partners are also working to reunite separated families, including unaccompanied children affected by the disaster.

Once the floodwaters recede, thousands of families will face the daunting task of rebuilding their destroyed homes and livelihoods. Significant support will be needed to restore a sense of normalcy to their lives.

The UN and its partners are gathering more data to better assess the full scope of the crisis. However, the urgency of the situation requires immediate action and increased support for flood-affected families in Maiduguri and across Nigeria.

Nigeria currently has 3.6 million internally displaced people, mainly in the northeast, and is home to nearly 100,000 asylum-seekers and refugees. UNHCR’s appeal for $107.1 million in aid for Nigeria had only been 28% funded by the end of August, underscoring the need for greater international assistance.