Save the Children International (SCI) Nigeria has reported that over 150,000 children have been displaced due to severe flooding in Borno State and urgently require humanitarian assistance. Duncan Harvey, the Country Director of SCI, shared this alarming news during a press briefing in Abuja following his visit to Maiduguri, where he assessed the situation and evaluated the needs of affected communities.

As of September 14, more than 300,000 individuals have been registered across at least 26 relocation sites, with ongoing registration efforts. Harvey noted, “We estimate that around 150,000 of the people living in those camps are children, and that’s a very real cause for concern. We need to protect those children, provide them with health and nutrition, ensure they have access to clean water, and establish appropriate care measures.”

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The flooding has severely impacted over 400,000 people in the state, resulting in 37 fatalities and 58 injuries. Many Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps are overcrowded and unsanitary, highlighting the inadequacy of available services to meet the growing needs of those affected.

The timing of the flooding exacerbates an already critical food and nutrition crisis in the region. Harvey emphasized the immediate necessity for food and clean water for IDPs, stating that the risk of waterborne diseases and malaria is significant, with widespread open defecation reported in the camps.

In light of this dire situation, he urged both the Borno State and federal governments to support humanitarian efforts by implementing enabling approaches and systems to expedite responses for children, families, and communities in need.

In response to the crisis, SCI is deploying urgent rescue services and life-saving measures. Their action plan includes providing Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to affected households, establishing health and nutrition outreach services, rehabilitating sanitation facilities, promoting hygiene, and implementing child protection initiatives. These initiatives include setting up mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) desks to offer psychological first aid to children and caregivers in the camps.