By Salifu Faridat
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has raised an alarming warning about the potential displacement of 4.2 million Nigerians as the annual rainy season intensifies in 2023.
The IOM’s 2023 Nigeria Response Overview Disaster Preparedness Plan underscores the escalating threat of climate-induced disasters in the country, demanding immediate action.
According to the report, a staggering $20 million is required to protect the most vulnerable communities through shelter and relocation efforts from May to October. The funds are earmarked for immediate rescue missions and long-term resettlement and rehabilitation initiatives, as specified by the IOM.
Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation, is no stranger to seasonal floods, but the devastation caused by the 2022 floods was unprecedented.
UNICEF reported that the disaster affected a staggering 3.2 million people, including 1.9 million children, making it the worst flood in a decade.
In a previous instance, the 2012 flood disaster, the worst in over 40 years, displaced nearly 2.3 million people, leading to 363 fatalities and damage to approximately 597,476 houses.
The destructive impact continued in October 2022, with floods displacing over 1.4 million people, causing over 603 deaths, more than 2,400 injuries, and damaging 82,035 houses. Moreover, 676,000 hectares of farmlands were affected.
Among the hardest-hit states, Bayelsa suffered the most with around 700,000 displaced individuals and nearly 300 communities submerged after torrential rains.
Jigawa, another severely affected state among the 34, witnessed the destruction of over 257 health facilities and schools between August and November 2022.
Additionally, Kogi, a critical confluence state, faced the submergence of major interstate roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and residential buildings, causing significant disruptions to supply chains, leading to a temporary petrol scarcity in the Federal Capital Territory and northern regions.
Tragically, a boat carrying 76 individuals from the flooded Ogbaru area of Anambra State capsized.
In response to the impending rainy season, the IOM is preparing a set of early actions to bolster the preparedness and response capacities of government authorities and local communities while strengthening coping mechanisms.
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Despite efforts by the Nigerian government to improve disaster preparedness, including the implementation of early warning systems and empowering local communities to respond to calamities, these initiatives often fall short due to limited resources and the sheer scale of the challenge, according to the IOM.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has taken the initiative to implement a series of steps in its Risk Management and Mitigation Strategy to prevent a recurrence of the 2022 crisis.
NEMA’s Information Officer, Manzo Ezekiel, emphasizes the importance of engaging all stakeholders in these efforts.
In conclusion, urgent action is needed to protect millions of Nigerians facing potential displacement due to the intensifying rainy season in 2023.
The situation demands immediate attention and substantial resources to safeguard vulnerable communities and mitigate the impact of climate-induced disasters in the region.
Collaboration between international organizations, the Nigerian government, and local communities is crucial to effectively tackle this mounting challenge.
Gombe: Devastating Flood Destroys 100 Houses
Gombe State witnessed heavy rainfall on Friday, triggering a disastrous flood that struck the Dogon Ruwa community in the Kaltungo Local Government Area.
The impact was severe, causing extensive damage to around 100 houses and leaving 500 residents homeless, facing tremendous hardships.
The community leader, Aliyu Isah, Sa’in Dogon Ruwa, expressed deep concern over the dire situation and called upon the Gombe State Government for immediate assistance in providing shelter and food to the affected residents.
The flood’s devastating effects have left families vulnerable and exposed to further risks due to the lack of adequate shelter and food resources. Preliminary estimates suggest that the losses incurred during the flood reach into the millions.
In response to the calamity, Mohammed Garba, the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation at the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), pledged to contact the concerned parties.
However, as of the press time, no response has been received from Garba. The community anxiously awaits assistance to help them cope with the aftermath of the flood and commence their recovery process.
