September 10, 2012
Floods across Nigeria have killed 137 people and displaced more than 30,000 since the beginning of July, the Red Cross said yesterday.
Nigeria, which has a rainy season from May to September, suffers from seasonal flash floods, which are sometimes lethal, especially in rural areas or overcrowded slums where drainage is poor or nonexistent.
According to Reuters, Red Cross spokesman Umar Mairiga said the floods had affected some 15 local government areas, with the worst hit being Adamawa, Taraba and Benue states in the east-central part of the country.
“We are expecting the numbers of dead or displaced to keep building up,” he said, putting the latest displaced figure at 36,331.
In Taraba state hundreds have been rendered homeless in Karem Lamido, following flood that washed away their homes and farm lands.
The flood set many people in a terrible condition as some of the victims have been reported to now settle in some schools across the state.
The Galadima of Murku, Malam Haruna Abubakar, explained to BBC Hausa service, monitored yesterday in Abuja that the rainfall lasted for four hours from 12am till 4am and “many houses and food items have been washed away. In fact over 500 houses have been destroyed by the flood.”
As some according to Malam Haruna are taking shelter in their neighbors and relatives residents some are forced to take refuges in shops in the market, “People are in terrible conditions there is not home and no foods”.
One of the chief Imam Malam Ibrahim Musa who is also taking refugee at Ihya’ul Sunnah Primary School said they were lucky to get out from the flooded area alive.
The flood, according to the Imam “affected not less than 1000 people, we lost everything even clothes.” Attempt by BBC to get the Taraba State Commissioner of information, Emma Bello and the Local government authority on what is being done to address the issue failed.
Source: All Africa
Leave a Reply