Photo by CARE Nigeria
Nigeria has suffered an unprecedented rainy season this year, and many climate experts predict these heavy, sudden rains could become the new normal.
This year’s rains caused the Lagdo Dam in nearby Cameroon to shed excess water, causing the Niger and Benue rivers to flood, submerging hundreds of communities under water and damaging houses, farmland, schools, and health care centers around the country.
There have been over 600 deaths reported so far from the crisis, while the Nigerian government and United Nations estimate that 95 million people will eventually be impacted by the climate-fueled flooding, with over two million people already displaced, and 19.4 million facing food insecurity.
A group of international relief organisations, including CARE, has said that if this is, in fact, the new normal, Nigeria will need urgent help.
A repeat of this in 2023 when households, farmers and states would still be in the recovery process could be catastrophic.”
“It would heighten pre-existing food insecurity, poverty and increase the number of out of school children, especially girls who in such circumstances suffer early and forced marriage and other forms of gender-based violence,” the groups said in a statement.
“Addressing Nigeria’s perennial flooding is important for the country to make progress. The human-induced causes of flooding must be purposely addressed without further delay.”