Executive Summary
In September 2024, a flash flood that resulted from the failure of the Alau dam in Konduga Local Government Area (LGA), rendered at least 400,000 individuals homeless in Borno state.[1] Maiduguri and Jere were among the most affected LGAs with about 240,000 individuals affected across the two LGAs within the first 48 hours of the flood.[2] Following this, Ngala LGA experienced an overflow of the river Yadzaram which coupled with the collapse of the Alau dam in Konduga led to flooding in Ngala and Diwka.[3] The floods have had far reaching multi-sectoral implications that threatened to roll back the gains achieved by humanitarian and development efforts in Borno state, over the last decade, more so, it compounded already existing inequalities, obstructed supply chain thereby limiting access to lifesaving assistance, worsened health, hygiene and sanitation gaps, and increased vulnerabilities and negative coping strategies.[3]
In response to this emergency, CARE Nigeria received funding from the Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA), the Gates Foundation and CARE’s Humanitarian Surge Fund (HSF) to implement emergency protection, food security and nutrition intervention, WASH support and prevention and response to gender based violence, in Maiduguri, Jere and Ngala LGAs. Funding from DRA was planned to support vulnerable communities in Maiduguri and Ngala while the HSF and Gates Foundation funding was planned to reach flood affected communities in Jere LGA. These responses were designed and are being guided by CARE Nigeria Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) reviewed in 2024.
As is the case with all our interventions, gender and protection remain central. We understand that in crisis situations gender gaps widen and gender-based violence become pervasive. On this response, CARE has carefully designed a gender and protection mainstreaming approach that utilizes evidence to ensure the adequate integration of appropriate gender and protection activities that will reduce vulnerability, sustain our impact and lead to more transformed communities who are better equipped to be resilient and self-sustaining. To do this, CARE commissioned a gender, protection and safety risk assessment to inform on vulnerabilities, risks and gaps, and with that, proffer tailored messages and activities that seek to address the issues identified.