Flooding in Nigeria: “Situation is overwhelming”, says bishop
At least 50,000 Christians have been directly affected by the flooding in Maiduguri, northern Nigeria, although the actual numbers could be far higher. ACN has committed to help the local diocese and is requesting donations and prayers from its benefactors.
The devastating floods that have affected the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, Borno state, are the worst in at least three decades, according to Auxiliary Bishop John Bakeni of the local diocese. Although official numbers are still being determined, at least one million people have been directly affected, he told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
The vast majority of the residents of Maiduguri are Muslim, but the state has a significant and active minority of Christians, including Catholics. The Diocese of Maiduguri estimates that rising waters have affected at least 22,989 Catholics from 3,601 households across six parishes in the worst hit areas. The actual numbers, however, could be much worse: “These are the figures we confirm from the parish registers. Thousands are yet to be accounted for.” The diocese estimates that a further 30,000 Christians from other denominations are in an equally difficult situation.
“The flood’s unprecedented scale has presented challenges beyond our previous experiences as more than half of the city is under water. Many lives, properties and livelihoods have been lost,” said the bishop. Several Church properties have been damaged by the water, including St Patrick’s Cathedral and the diocesan secretariat.
“Efforts are ongoing by government and relevant agencies to evacuate and resettle residents in the affected areas, while efforts are also on the way to ensure the provision of food, shelter, and medical assistance, I must say that the situation is overwhelming,” Bishop John also said, in a damage report sent to ACN International.
The IDP camps that were used for the victims of Boko Haram violence in the past decades and had gradually been closed down by the government in recent years due to the improvement of security in the state of Borno, have been re-opened to accommodate the flood victims.
“The urgent needs, for now, are food, medical items and temporary shelter,” said Bishop John, adding that the authorities are preparing for possible outbreaks of diseases, such as cholera, malaria and diarrhea, not to mention other dangers. “The flood waters are now a cocktail of hazards, pathogens from decomposing bodies from the graves, wastewater from the hospitals, gutters, wildlife from the zoo, broken glass/bottles and exposed iron rods. We are creating awareness and enlightening our people, especially our young ones, to stop entering the flood waters.”
ACN’s head of projects for Nigeria, Kinga Schierstaedt, expressed deep sorrow: “ACN is deeply saddened by what is happening in Maiduguri and is praying for all the victims of this catastrophe. Many members of the Christian community had just managed to rebuild their lives after losing everything to terrible violence and religious persecution, and now to see the floodwaters take everything away again is heartbreaking. The foundation is committed to supporting them and will not leave them alone in their time of need.”
The flooding in Nigeria was caused firstly by heavy rainfall at the end of August. The rising waters put extra stress on the Alau Dam, whose spillways collapsed on 8 September, submerging over 40% of the city of Maiduguri.
ACN has committed to help the Diocese of Maiduguri and the affected Christians in the region through the provision of immediate relief and assistance. Benefactors are also asked to pray for the safety of all the people in Maiduguri. “While asking for your earnest prayers at this critical time, we also appeal for financial support to enable the diocese to support the victims of flood across the diocese. We solicit for special prayers for families and all those affected by the flood for God’s strength and consolation,” Bishop John Bakeni said.
