Help reaches Nigeria flood victims 

Vital aid from a Catholic charity has reached flood victims in northern Nigeria, but a senior Christian leader warns that the scale of the human tragedy could be greater than initially feared.  

Bishop John Bakeni, Auxiliary Bishop of Maiduguri, told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), which is supporting his diocese’s relief efforts, that at least one million people have been affected by the flood. 

He added, “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.” 

He also said that the flood was Maiduguri’s worst in at least three decades, and that “[the] urgent needs, for now, are food, medical items, and temporary shelter.” 

With backing from ACN, the Church is providing these for 20,000 victims. 

According to the diocese, rising waters have affected at least 22,989 members of 3,601 Catholic households, across six parishes in the worst-hit areas – but the actual number could be much higher. 

Bishop Bakeni said, “These are the figures we confirm from the parish registers. Thousands have yet to be accounted for.”  

The diocese also estimated that an additional 30,000 Christians from other denominations are in an equally difficult situation. The majority of the city’s residents are Muslim. 

Bishop Bakeni told ACN, “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.” 

IDP camps for the victims of Boko Haram that were closed in recent years have been re-opened to accommodate flood victims. 

The senior Church leader said that authorities were 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, waste water from the hospitals, gutters, wildlife from the zoo, broken glass [or] bottles, and exposed iron rods. We are creating awareness and enlightening our people, especially our young ones, to stop entering the flood waters.” 

The flooding was caused by heavy rainfall at the end of August, which in turn put extra stress on the Alau Dam. The dam collapsed on September 8th, submerging more than 40 percent of Maiduguri.  

ACN has pledged to provide relief and assistance for the Maiduguri Diocese. 

The charity’s head of Nigerian projects, Kinga Schierstaedt, said the charity was “committed to supporting them and will not leave them alone in their time of need.” 

In addition to an appeal for aid, Bishop Bakeni called on ACN to pray for the safety of all people in Maiduguri.  

He said, “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 special prayers for families and all those affected by the flood, for God’s strength and consolation.”