‘The era of keeping IDP camps in Maiduguri is over. We will no longer accommodate new arrivals in the camps. Going forward, we will support only those already registered’

The 36 camps – set up in Maiduguri and its environs to accommodate more than 400,000 displaced flood victims – will remain open for only a week or two.

Borno State governor Babagana Umara Zulum delivered his second statewide address on Sunday, September 15, announcing that his administration had established the camps as a temporary measure.

Citing concerns that individuals unaffected by the flood are moving into the camps, he emphasised the need to close them “within a week or two”.

“I have seen individuals from Mafa, Kaga and Bulumkutu, who were not affected by the flood, inside the camps. The era of keeping IDP camps in Maiduguri is over,” Zulum said. “To address this issue, we will no longer accommodate new arrivals in the camps.

“Going forward, our focus will be on supporting those already registered in the camps and interventions will be token-based.”

The floods, caused by the overflow of the Alau Dam, have affected about two million people across the Maiduguri metropolis and surrounding areas. More than 400,000 people have been displaced.

The death toll – 37 so far – has yet to be confirmed. Residents and rescuers believe it will be much higher. There are many people missing.

On Monday, September 16, Zulum flagged off the distribution of relief materials – including a 25kg bag of rice, a carton of pasta and ₦10,000 cash – for flood victims in a ceremony at Bakassi camp along Damboa Road in Maiduguri.

Fatima Mustapha Mulima fled from her deluged home in the Moro-Moro area a week ago. She and her family are taking shelter in Bakassi – for as long as it remains open.

She confirmed that she had received a bag of rice and a carton of pasta. However, she said she was extremely worried that, if the camp closed in a week to two, her house might still be flooded.

“My relatives went to assess the state of our community to see if the water has receded, but sadly, the water remains. They said it will take at least three weeks for the water to fully recede.

“I hope the government will reconsider its decision to shut the camp soon.”

Not all flood victims in Bakassi received food intervention.

Mohammed Abubakar, displaced by the flood on Tuesday and resettled in Bakassi on Wednesday, said: “The government distributed food items but a significant number of us didn’t receive the intervention because when we arrived at the camp, they had finished distributing the tokens.

“When we asked the officials, we were told it was over and they couldn’t give anymore.”

Falmata Ibrahim, 38, has spent seven days at the Bakassi camp without any relief.

“Since I arrived at the camp, I have been sleeping on the floor. I don’t have a room. I went to collect the meal served in the camp on my first day, but I was asked to present my token and I don’t have one. I was told that only those with tokens are entitled to food.”

As the government has directed that all IDP camps will be closed in a week or two, there are fresh concerns among victims about the state of their flooded houses.

In Limanti ward, some residents returned home when the water began to recede, but most of them ended up sleeping in worship centres, such as mosques, because their houses were destroyed by the floodwaters.

Alhaji Modu, 58, was desperate to return to his community.

“When I heard that the water had receded, I was excited to return home. I did not want to stay in the camp anymore. The situation is delicate.

“We were warned about the risk of disease outbreaks due to poor hygiene. The camps are congested and dirty. There are no adequate toilet facilities and no clean water. People are defecating in the open.

“But when I returned home, unfortunately, I found my house was destroyed and I ended up sleeping in the mosque.”

The United Nations warned on Wednesday, September 11, of possible outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases.

The UN expected the number of malnutrition cases – already at record-high levels – to increase.

Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, the World Health Organisation (WHO) representative in Nigeria, visited Maiduguri on Saturday, September 14, to assess the situation in flood-displaced communities, including the Bakassi and Yerwa displaced persons’ camps.

Mulombo expressed deep concern over the impact of the disaster on the lives of the affected population, particularly the most vulnerable, including women, children and the elderly.

As part of its immediate response, WHO has deployed four mobile clinics to displaced persons’ camps and provided essential medicines and medical supplies, including Interagency Emergency Health Kits (IEHKs) and malaria treatments.

Malaria cases are expected to escalate.

The devastating flood has highlighted the complex humanitarian crisis that the state has been grappling with, driven by years of conflict and displacement. This has been compounded by severe economic woes with the prices of all commodities, particularly food and fuel, soaring.

Since the flood, prices have escalated. Some traders have even been accused of hoarding food and then selling it at outrageous prices.

A report released by the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that immediate needs included food, protection, shelter and clean water.

Amina Mohammed, 27, told RNI that when the water flooded her house, she was experiencing severe menstrual pain. She was forced to flee and was unable to take anything with her.

“I was bleeding when I left home. Luckily, I had one pad close to me. But one is not enough. I trekked for more than 15km from my community to the Dalori community, stopping at the University of Maiduguri campus on my way to buy pads.

“I can’t imagine what other young ladies are going through in the IDP camps without enough toilet facilities, clean water and access to dignity kits.”

Amina said she could not wait to go back home because she had lost touch with the rest of her family.

“My parents are staying in the camps, but my siblings and I are staying with my aunt. I can’t stay in the camp because of my situation. There aren’t enough toilet facilities and clean water.”

Amina travels 8km from her aunt’s house to the camp where her parents were taking refuge every day.

“I’m tired of going back and forth. I wish everything would get better so that we can return home. But I don’t think we are going anytime soon because three houses close to ours were destroyed by the floodwater due to weak foundations. I fear our house will also be destroyed.”

Because of the plans to shut down displaced persons’ camps soon, the government has been urged by experts to conduct a proper assessment to mitigate potential risks.

Kawu Monguno, a senior lecturer at the University of Maiduguri’s Centre for Risk and Disaster Management, told RNI that the government needed to embark on a thorough assessment of the affected communities before anyone was resettled.

“Most of the structures in the affected communities have weak foundations; the buildings are old and not flood resistant. That’s why there are many reports of building collapses in the affected communities. People have to be patient. They will not be able to return to their homes anytime soon.”

Zulum announced that arrangements have been made to do an assessment at communities to verify “the actual number of those who are affected”.

Manzo Ezekiel, spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said more staff from other zonal offices – Yola, Gombe, Jos and Abuja – had been deployed to help in the ongoing intervention activities.

MAMMAN MAHMOOD