Nigerian flood victims in Borno state face long wait for medical help

More than 30 people have been killed by the floods, which authorities say affected about one million people.
People in Nigeria's flood-hit north eastern Borno state are struggling to get medical care as overwhelmed aid agencies warn of an outbreak of waterborne disease following the worst floods to hit the region in three decades.
boko, most of whom are housed in camps without food and clean water.
More To Read
- Brave Kenya exit AFCON U20 after draw with Nigeria
- Nigerian tribunal upholds Sh28.5 billion fine against Meta for violating consumer, data laws
- Lassa fever kills 118 in Nigeria over last three months
- Nigeria’s state of emergency: was President Tinubu’s declaration legal and justified?
- Nigeria bets on deradicalisation programme in North West
- Why West Africa could soon have a jihadist state
The deluge threatens not only the health and safety of the displaced but puts a strain on aid agencies and government resources, exacerbating an already critical humanitarian crisis.
The floods in Borno, the birthplace of Boko Haram militants in the Lake Chad basin, started when a dam burst its walls following heavy rainfall that has also caused floods in Cameroon, Chad, Mali and Niger, all part of Africa's Sahel region that usually receives little rain.
In the last two weeks of August, more than 1.5 million people were displaced across 12 countries in West and Central Africa due to floods, and about 465 have been killed, according to the United Nations humanitarian affairs office.
Over the weekend, an additional 50,000 people were displaced in north eastern Nigeria as the floods intensified, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said on Monday.
"The situation in the Sahel and Lake Chad region is increasingly dire, as the compounding effects of conflict, displacement and climate change take a severe toll on vulnerable populations," said Hassane Hamadou, NRC's Central and West Africa regional director.
The floods in West Africa come at a time of flooding in Europe after days of torrential rain that caused rivers to burst their banks in several parts of the region.
In a camp in Maiduguri, Borno's state capital, Bintu Amadu was among hundreds of frustrated people waiting for hours to see a doctor because her son had diarrhoea.
"We have not received any aid, and our attempts to see a doctor have been unsuccessful. We have been waiting for medical attention since yesterday, but to no avail," she said.
Ramatu Yajubu was happy she had obtained an appointment card after waiting for days, but quickly added: "I am uncertain about receiving attention due to the overwhelming number of people seeking care."
Years of an Islamist insurgency have driven many people from their farms.
Mathias Goemaere, a field coordinator for Medecins Sans Frontieres, said that even before the floods, residents in Borno were struggling with malnutrition.
"They are exposed to their environment, so what do we see? A lot of waterborne diseases, diarrhoea, diarrhoeal diseases ... Malaria is around with a lot of mosquitoes," Goemaere told Reuters.
"So a lot of people, because of malnutrition, are immuno-suppressed, which makes them more susceptible to diseases."
Nigeria's government has separately warned of rising water levels in the country's largest rivers, the Benue and Niger, which could cause floods in the oil-producing Niger Delta region in the south.
Top Stories Today
- Ethiopia's electoral board deregisters Tigray People's Liberation Front
- Kenya tops East Africa in investment appeal on low risk profile
- Kenya needs special courts to handle police rights abuse cases - IPOA
- Deputy governors demand Sh600bn for counties to boost devolution
- Legal gap leaves NLC powerless to recover grabbed public land
- Business operators protest excessive permits and taxes
- MCAs demand over 700 kanjo recruits withdrawn from CBD for harassing traders
- Naivas to remain open as City Hall snubs MCAs' call to close city outlets
- MP Were murder case: Suspect challenges JKIA court's jurisdiction
- Activists want Ruto’s appointment of Prof Mutua declared unconstitutional
- Fuel prices unchanged for third consecutive month
- High court bars state from shutting down internet during polls, protests
- Muturi resigned as AG and wasn't sacked, Govt official tells court
- IPOA disputes Ruto’s claim on abductions, says probes still ongoing
- Nairobi MCAs call for closure of Naivas outlets
- Operation Ondoa Jangili nets over 300 suspects, 200 firearms
- New digital police recruitment system ready for roll out - NPSC
- Fraud and system abuse led to end of EduAfya - Duale
- KeRRA closes sections of Ngong-Suswa Road for major repairs
- Ministry must respect DG Patrick Amoth’s position, says Duale