Floods Displace 50,000 in Nigeria, Exacerbating Humanitarian Crises in Sahel Region

Heavy floods in northeast Nigeria have displaced at least 50,000 people from their homes since the weekend, exacerbating existing humanitarian crises in countries such as Cameroon, Mali, and Niger. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is urging the international community to provide increased support to the most vulnerable populations.

The situation in the Sahel and Lake Chad region is dire, with the compounding effects of conflict, displacement, and climate change taking a severe toll on vulnerable populations. Hassane Hamadou, NRC’s Central and West Africa regional director, emphasized the need for immediate support, including shelter, food, and hygiene supplies. Longer-term solutions, such as improving existing infrastructures, must be coordinated with local governments to build resilience against future disasters.

Communities along the Lake Chad Basin, already facing conflict and displacement due to insecurity, are now contending with the added threat of climate-related disasters. Heavy floods are becoming more frequent, with serious humanitarian consequences almost every year. Farmlands have been destroyed, threatening livelihoods and worsening food insecurity. Schools have been destroyed, forced to close, or are being used as shelters for affected communities.

In Mali, where the lean season has pushed many communities to the brink of famine, families that rely on subsistence farming and pastoralism for survival have lost everything. Local actors and humanitarian organizations are working around the clock to provide temporary relief, despite increasingly stretched resources. The 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan for Sahel is only 25 percent funded, highlighting the urgent need for increased funding for both emergency response and long-term recovery.

"These severe floods are a stark reminder of the Sahel and Lake Chad region’s vulnerability to climate change, which may only worsen in the nearby future," said Hamadou. "Fragile communities already living in crisis cannot face these challenges alone."

As the international community responds to this crisis, it is crucial to prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable populations and work towards building resilience against future disasters.