Attachments
OVERVIEW
Floods continue to displace a growing number of people in Cameroon, Chad, Mali, the Niger, and Nigeria.
As of 2 December, over 4.9 million people have been affected by floods, with 1.94 million in Chad, 1.52 million in the Niger, 612,700 in Nigeria, over 448,000 in Cameroon and 370,000 in Mali. Since mid-November chronic flooding in Mali has impacted over 26,000 people, damaging more than 4,000 shelters in the municipalities of Niafunke, Dire, Goundam, Timbuktu, Taoudenit and the Rharous’ circle across the Niger Delta after the water retention facility of Dire dam gave way.
UNHCR EMERGENCY RESPONSE
UNHCR emergency flood response supports flood-affected displaced persons to meet immediate needs by providing core relief items (CRIs), cash assistance, shelter, and protection; prioritizing families through risk and mitigation.
In Cameroon, although floodwaters are receding in many areas, a breakdown of the dike on the island of Kofia in Blangoua, Logone et Chari, flooded local communities, and made physical access to the affected areas difficult. Partners are using waterways to provide aid in several districts.
Following verification exercises by local authorities, the official number of flood-affected people country-wide was reduced to 448,164.
In Chad, the Camp Coordination and Camp Management cluster flood impact assessment in Ngorerom, in the Lac region found that over 300 refugee and IDP homes have been submerged by lake waters since mid-November. This number could increase as the water level continues to rise rapidly. Urgent response and prevention measures are required. The Humanitarian Country Team meets twice a month to support the Government with flood response. Weekly inter-cluster coordination meetings coordinate ongoing operational response. UNHCR and its partners require additional funding to continue responding to the Government's appeal.
In the Niger, a joint communique by the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Disaster Management dated 21 November reported that as of 15 November, support in food and non-food items had reached 207,871 affected households corresponding to almost 1,5 million people, 99.7% of the target. The estimated cost of assistance is 8.2 billion CFA from the State's own funds.
In Nigeria, in the Bakisi and Gubio camps hosting 43,000 IDPs, the expiration of the wet feeding programme has increased negative coping mechanisms such as substance abuse and the sale and exchange of sex. The government has committed to provide cash assistance to flood victims before the closure of these two camps and has collected feeding cards and account details of the affected individuals. In addition to needs for clean water, security, and food, the cold season has exacerbated the need for blankets and sleeping mats, especially for women and children.