- Title: NIGERIA: Nigeria's flood situation worsens.
- Date: 18th September 2012
- Summary: BENUE, NIGERIA (SEPTEMBER 18, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FLOODED AREAS WITH SUBMERGED ROOF TOPS VARIOUS OF "NONGU KRISTU U SUDAN KEN TIV" RELIEF CAMP VARIOUS OF GRAINS BEING SHARED (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROSEMARY IORHUNA, DISPLACED RESIDENT AT THE CAMP, SAYING: "As I am here, I appreciate what government is doing for us, they have given us food, given us many things of which I cannot name all. My problem is that the toilet situation is not fine as we are too many. For me it is just about the toilets as I really appreciate the relief efforts they have put up so far." WOMAN WASHING AT THE CAMP VARIOUS OF FOOD AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS PUT OUT TO DRY VARIOUS OF HEALTH OFFICER ATTENDING TO WOMAN WITH HER CHILD (SOUNDBITE) (English) SESE FRANCIS, DISPLACED VICTIM AT ONE OF THE CAMPS, SAYING: "I have no preparations at all to go back to my old place if the state, local government or federal government do not assist me, I have nothing to say that I am going back to at my former house because the whole house is demolished like a bulldozer." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN A ROOM AT THE CAMP (SOUNDBITE) (English) MATTHEW ABAH, BRANCH SECRETARY OF THE NIGERIAN RED CROSS, BENUE STATE, SAYING: "We have also approached our national headquarters of the Nigerian Red cross Abuja to come and assist these people because from the look of things, the situation is really very devastating and we are not.... we really pity them." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN PLAYING AT THE CAMP (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUDU YOHANNA, PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, SAYING: "We have over 10,000 people, let's say in this camp; we should have about 6,000 or 7,000 in the other camp, maybe four or five thousand in the other camp too and the population of IDP's (internally displaced persons) keep increasing because the level of the water keeps increasing the by day." VARIOUS OF WOMEN BATHING THEIR CHILDREN (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUDU YOHANNA, PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, SAYING: "This flooding is not only in Benue state, we have in Taraba we have in Adamawa and all these riverine areas so the federal government is thinking of a lasting solution to this problem. Definitely some people are going to be asked to move away from where they are living presently, they are going to be relocated because most of the houses are situated on flood plains." VARIOUS OF VEHICLES IN WATER CONTAINER AND SHOP IN WATER TIMBER SHOP IN WATER VARIOUS OF COMMUNITY UNDER WATER WITH RESIDENTS MOVING ABOUT IN CANOES
- Embargoed: 3rd October 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Environment
- Reuters ID: LVA8V6B1QVO8LDEGGXG72VHB0XHH
- Story Text: Flood water continues to rise in North and Central Nigeria after days of heavy rainfall and overflowing rivers.
Claimed to be the worst flooding in the country's 51 year history, the floods have doubled in the past week which has led thousands of residents to flee to higher safe grounds.
Areas worst hit are Adamawa, Taraba and Benue states with the floods fast spreading to Kano, Bauchi, Jigawa and Kaduna states.
Relief camps have been set up across the affected areas in primary schools which have halted the start of another academic session.
Many displaced residents in Benue state, which has a population of about 3 million people, are left with no choice but to relocate to camps provided by the government as their only means of survival.
Rosemary Iorhuna, a displaced victim says the state government has been helpful in their efforts to provide camps for affected flood victims.
"As I am here, I appreciate what government is doing for us, they have given us food, given us many things which I cannot name all. My problem is that the toilet situation is not fine as we are too many. For me its just about the toilets as I really appreciate the relief effort they have put up so far," the distraught lady said.
Sese Francis, another displaced victim says living in the camp is his new life.
"I have no preparations at all to go back to my old place if the state, local government or federal government do not assist me, I have nothing to say that I am going back to at my former house because the whole house are demolished like bulldozer," he said.
The state says the floods worsened after dams in Nigeria and Cameroon released waters which led to Rivers Benue and Niger over-flowing.
Matthew Abah, Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross in Benue state says they need more support to effectively handle the worsening flood crisis.
"We have also approached our national headquarters of the Nigerian Red Cross Abuja to come and assist those people because from the look of things the situation is really very devastating and we are not..... we really pity them," the Red Cross official said.
In most areas, the floods have washed away farm lands, houses and cut off the roads networks.
The situation has crippled economic and agricultural activities in the states which is devastating for residents of Benue as the state is known for its rich agricultural crops like potatoes, cassava and soya bean.
Audu Yohanna, Zonal Public Relations Officer for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said that camps have been set up in different regions to deal with the rising number of displaced residents.
"We have over 10,000 people, let's say in this camp; we should have about 6,000 or 7,000 in the other camp, maybe four or five thousand in the other camp too and the population of IDP's (internally displaced persons) keep increasing because the level of the water keeps increasing day by day," Audu said.
The NEMA official further added that more residents who have not been affected will be asked to relocate from their homes as a permanent solution to avoiding loss of lives and properties in the plaguing flood problem.
"This flooding is not only in Benue state, we have in Taraba we have in Adamawa and all these riverine areas so the federal government is thinking of a lasting solution to this problem. Definitely some people are going to be asked to move away from where they are living presently, they are going to be relocated because most of the houses are situated on flood plains," he said.
There are fears that the water could lead to transmission of water-borne diseases adding to the already disheartening situation.
Nigeria, which has a rainy season from May to September suffers from seasonal flash floods, which are sometimes lethal, especially in rural areas or over-crowded slums where drainage is poor or non-existent.
Floods across Nigeria have killed over 137 people and since the beginning of July, rendered thousands homeless. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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