Central and West Africa are grappling with some of the worst flooding in decades, as torrential rains devastate entire communities. Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state in Nigeria, has faced extreme challenges as the floods compound an already severe humanitarian crisis caused by years of insurgency from Islamic extremists.
So far, over 1,000 people have lost their lives, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced across Chad, Nigeria, Mali, and Niger. The U.N. reports that more than four million people have been affected, a threefold increase from the previous year. Countries like Nigeria have been hit particularly hard, with at least 230 deaths reported and extensive damage to infrastructure.
In Maiduguri, the situation is dire. Saleh Bukar, a local resident, recounted waking up to neighbors screaming about rising waters in the middle of the night. Many older and disabled individuals were left behind, and those who failed to escape quickly drowned. Floodwaters also destroyed the city’s main prison, leading to the escape of hundreds of inmates.
The floods have wiped out homes, critical infrastructure, and even entire ecosystems. Over 80% of the animals at the Borno State Museum Park were killed, and several reptiles escaped into the floodwaters. Two major dikes at a local dam failed, releasing 540 billion liters of water and turning parts of the city into rivers.
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