The United Nations has raised an urgent alert regarding a potential cholera outbreak among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri, Borno State, due to recent flooding. According to a report from the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), contaminated water sources and the destruction of critical infrastructure heighten the risk of disease outbreaks.

The report highlighted that immediate needs in the flood-stricken areas include food, shelter, and clean water. It pointed out that several water sources are now contaminated, potentially leading to cholera and other waterborne diseases. The flooding has also exacerbated vulnerabilities among unaccompanied children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

In Maiduguri, the most affected areas include Gwange, Bama Road, and the Maiduguri Main Market, among others. Floods have also impacted nutrition stabilization centers for severely malnourished children in MMC and Jere LGAs. Additionally, two UN guesthouses in Maiduguri are currently inaccessible due to the floods.

Beyond Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states have also reported significant flooding, with over 12,500 and 46,600 people affected, respectively. Concerns are growing about potential severe impacts from possible water releases from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam.

The UN report underscored that these floods are part of a broader national crisis, with over 200 lives lost and more than 800,000 people affected across 29 states. The damage to farmland and infrastructure is expected to worsen food insecurity, with over 32 million Nigerians facing severe food shortages.

The UN and its partners have activated their business continuity plans to provide essential services and support in these critical times.