Swept away: Family struggles in flood-ravaged Nigeria
On an otherwise peaceful morning in September, Zarah and her family woke to the sound of an approaching disaster.
"All of a sudden, we saw water coming," recalled Zarah, 18, a local Child and Youth Council member and advisor to SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. "Before we could do anything, the water was before us. We had to vacate the house before we got flooded."
Zarah, her mother, and 11 siblings quickly grabbed essential documents and a few belongings before fleeing to safety. As the floodwaters surged, nearby homes and businesses in Gonidamgari were submerged.
“The flow of the water was very fast, and it got us confused. I was scared,” Zarah said.
“We trekked several kilometres in the water to reach our grandmother’s house on Baga Road,” Zarah added. “I was tired and exhausted, but we had to stay alive. The scene of water flooding our neighbours’ homes is a trauma for me.”
The September 10 flood, triggered by the overflow of the Alau Dam in Konduga Local Government Area, submerged entire communities, and more than 400,000 people were displaced. Families like Zarah's lost their homes, belongings, and sources of livelihood.
For more information: Devastating floods in Chad and Nigeria impact more than 2.1 million people
Responding to the immediate needs
SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria launched a comprehensive three-month emergency plan to assist the most affected families and children. In partnership with the government, they identified underserved IDP (internally displaced persons) camps in Maiduguri Metropolis that urgently need support. We have provided multi-purpose cash assistance to 3,000 individuals and distributed menstrual hygiene kits to 300 young girls.
The program addresses immediate needs such as food, clean water, and emergency supplies. With many children at high risk of family separation due to the disaster, efforts are also focused on keeping families together and preventing further trauma.
Going to bed hungry
Zarah's family was among the many who lost nearly everything.
“I am not back home because our house collapsed due to the flooding incident,” Zarah said. “My family and I are only able to eat once a day. It is very difficult for us to get food since we do not have any source of livelihood or income for now. School has resumed, but the flooding destroyed my books and other school materials. I really desire to return to school; however, we do not have money for the books or transportation fare to school and other expenses.”
For families like Zarah’s, the future is uncertain. Their once-stable existence is now precarious, their home uninhabitable, and their income is gone. The family lives with Zarah’s grandmother in a cramped one-room apartment. Fourteen people share the tiny space, with only one toilet and little to eat.
“Living with my grandmother in a one-room apartment is very inconvenient,” Zarah explained. "Feeding has become a luxury as we barely eat once a day. Some days, we go to bed hungry. It’s hard to believe this is our life now—suddenly!”
“Our living conditions have deteriorated drastically,” Zarah’s mother said, echoing the sentiment of countless families across Borno State. "We need help to rebuild our lives, to get back to normal."
Losing everything and needing help to rebuild their lives
Zarah remains hopeful as they wait for the water to recede and the long road to recovery to begin. She dreams of returning home, of regaining some sense of normalcy for herself and her siblings.
“We need to get our lives back,” Zarah said quietly. "I don’t know how fast it will happen, but I am sure it will.”
With SOS Children’s Villages emergency assistance, Zara and her family are slowly rebuilding their lives.
To help other families in need, donate to the SOS MAYDAY Emergency Relief Fund, which equips us to act swiftly and effectively to support children and families during emergencies and to build resilience against future disasters in the communities we support. Please donate to this fund to enable us to respond when crises occur.