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Nigeria: Floods - Jun 2022

Disaster description

On 17 July, floods and flash floods were reported in Yobe state (north-eastern Nigeria), resulting in casualties. According to media, four people died and a number of people sustained injuries. Over 100 households have been displaced across 11 communities in Gulani and one community in Gujba. Several towns, including Gulani, Bara, Gagure, and Njibulwa, are inaccessible as the main bridge linking these areas was cut off. (ECHO, 19 Jul 2022)

Since 20 June 2022, abundant rains are being recorded over localized areas in southern Nigeria, with total amount of rains exceeding 100mm per day so far. Floods have also started to be recorded in some parts of the area at risk, mainly in Northern localities and urban areas since the end of June 2022. Currently, more flash floods are recorded and general alerts are for the moment in yellow alert with close monitoring of meteorological experts issuing frequent alerts since July. [...] The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA)'s Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) predicted that 233 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 32 states of the Federation and the FCT fall within the Highly Probable Flood Risks Areas, while 212 LGAs in 35 States of the Federation including FCT fall within the Moderately Probable Flood Risks Areas. (IFRC, 29 Jul 2022)

On 2 August, floods caused by heavy rainfall reportedly affected Jigawa State (northern Nigeria), resulting in casualties. According to reports from media, five people died and seven others sustained injuries in the Kirikasamma area, while two other fatalities occurred in Balangu Town. Floods have damaged houses, livestock, and food items. On 4 August, moderate rainfall is forecast over northern Nigeria (including Jigawa), while on 5 August, moderate to locally heavy rainfall is forecast for north-western and central Nigeria. (ECHO, 4 Aug 2022)

Some 43,155 people across 26 Local Government Areas (LGA) in the BAY states have been affected by flooding since the beginning of the rainy season, according to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). An estimated 4,347 people have been displaced, with the elderly, women and children most affected. Most of the displaced people have occupied schools. Tounga, Fufore LGAs in Adamawa state and Gujba, Geidam, and Gulani LGA in Yobe state have been the most affected areas by the floods, according to partners’ rapid needs assessments. IDPs in the flood-prone regions already using makeshift shelters or sleeping outside remain the most susceptible to the impact of the floods. Response operations are being scaled up to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, with funding from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund, among other funding sources. More than 60 per cent of the affected households have not received any food assistance after weeks of displacement, raising concerns about the risk of people turning to negative coping strategies. (OCHA, 11 Aug 2022)

Floods continue to affect Jigawa State (northern Nigeria), resulting in an increased humanitarian impact. According to Nigeria National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and media reports, at least 50 people have died across Jigawa since the beginning of the rainy season. Hundreds of households have been displaced to 11 temporary camps, as floods have destroyed many houses, infrastructure, farmlands, livestock, and properties. On 23-25 August, moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast over most of Nigeria, including Jigawa State. (ECHO, 23 Aug 2022)

According to media reports, since the beginning of 2022, 300 people have been killed in separate flood-related incidents, 100,000 have been displaced and 500,000 affected across the country. (ECHO, 21 Sep 2022)

Media report (quoting national authorities), as of 18 October, 603 fatalities, over 2,400 injured, nearly 1,303,000 displaced people and a total of more than 2,504,000 affected people across the Country. In particular, the Bayelsa State is the worst affected, with around 700,000 either displaced or affected people. In addition, same sources also report around 203,400 damaged houses, of which over 82,000 fully damaged or destroyed. (ECHO, 18 Oct 2022)

Severe floods have affected more than 4.4 million people across Nigeria since July, according to the latest update by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The floods have displaced over 2.4 million people. More than 660 people have lost their lives. The catastrophic floods have also made 174,000 houses unfit for habitation. The floods have damaged more than 676,000 hectares of farmland in some areas in the harvest season and may worsen already alarming levels of hunger and malnutrition in the country. (OCHA, 14 Dec 2022)

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