Nigeria grapples with severe flooding

Guardian Nigeria

Several days after torrential rains caused a dam collapse in Nigeria, emergency crews are struggling to reach people trapped by the floodwaters. Authorities say 30 people have been killed, and some on

Transcript

00:00This is Maiduguri.

00:04Almost half the city is submerged after torrential rains caused the dam to burst earlier this

00:09week.

00:11While flooding is not uncommon in this part of northern Nigeria, authorities say it is

00:16the worst flood for three decades.

00:20Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced from their homes and are in need of

00:24food and shelter.

00:27The United Nations World Food Programme has set up soup kitchens.

00:32They say the flooding has compounded several already existing problems.

00:38This region has been facing conflict for a decade and more recently we have seen food

00:47inflation where food prices have been skyrocketing, really affecting millions of the people who

00:59are facing food insecurity.

01:02The rescue operation continues with thousands still trapped, unable to escape as water levels

01:08have yet to recede.

01:11Many are still missing.

01:15I have one son and I have not seen or heard from him in three days.

01:19We got out after the flood overpowered us.

01:22It was really hard but thanks to the soldiers who helped us to safety.

01:26Right now we're still searching for my son.

01:30Initially we didn't expect it to end up like this but as it progressed it kept getting

01:35worse.

01:36Eventually we had to leave our home.

01:38A lot of people have lost their lives.

01:42India is already facing acute food shortages and with so much farmland now waterlogged,

01:47humanitarian agencies say they still need more assistance.

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