Devastating floods in Chad and Nigeria impact more than 2.1 million people
People escorted through flood water on a military boat in Maiduguri, Nigeria, on September 12, 2024—photo by AFP.
Heavy rains have led to devastating floods in West and Central Africa, leading to over 1,000 deaths and the destruction of hundreds of thousands of homes. Nearly 4 million people have been impacted, with almost 1 million forced to evacuate their homes.
Since July, severe flooding caused by torrential rains has hit all of Chad's provinces, claiming 341 lives and affecting more than 1.5 million people, according to the latest reports from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Hundreds of homes have been destroyed, leaving thousands of families displaced and seeking refuge in schools and temporary shelters.
Richard Ndoutabet Ngardoum, the National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Chad, expressed deep concern over the situation, stating:
“Community families and their children are the worst affected, and the situation is very critical. On the ground, our teams see urgent needs for shelter, food, access to drinking water, hygiene supplies, and healthcare.”
He also emphasized the impact on SOS Children’s Villages programs, adding: “In the Family Strengthening Program in the affected area of Linia, 103 out of the 300 families we support have lost their homes.”
Recurrent floods, often affecting the same communities every year, exacerbate poverty by severely damaging livelihoods and restricting access to essential services.
“The loss of over 60,000 livestock and the flooding of 250,000 hectares of farmland are having a direct negative impact on food security and the livelihoods of the population,” highlighted Richard, adding that the affected populations are now heavily reliant on humanitarian aid to survive.
As the new school year approaches, the occupation of schools by displaced families is becoming a serious issue.
“Temporary shelters will soon need to close, but the needs remain immense. The rainy season lasts until October, and the rain forecasts do not point to a decrease,” continued Richard Ndoutabet Ngardoum, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Chad.
In addition to material damage, the destruction of infrastructure, such as bridges and roads, complicates the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected areas. The risk of epidemics, especially cholera, is on the rise due to water contamination and lack of adequate sanitation, increasing the threat of waterborne diseases, particularly for children.
Faced with this humanitarian crisis, many organizations are calling for urgent mobilization to address the needs of the most vulnerable populations. “We hope to intervene as we did during the 2022 floods, assisting the most vulnerable families with essential non-food items and multi-purpose cash assistance. This will enable families to rent housing, buy medicines, seek medical care, or enroll their children in school,” explained Richard.
On a positive note, even if access is difficult, N’Djamena has no damage and is calm. In terms of provisions, a contingent stock has been put in place. Also, emergency and development support for displaced children and families in the villages of Kousseri and Doumdoum in the Lake Chad province is ongoing.
Chad shares a border with Nigeria, which has also been greatly impacted by the floods. Eghosa Erhumwunse, National Director for SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, highlights the catastrophic impacts on 600,000 people:
"The devastating floods in Borno State have brought a tragic loss of life and destruction of property. Borno, a state that had begun to rebuild after years of crisis, now finds itself plunged back into humanitarian needs and emergencies. There is an urgent call for support, especially for families in our program in the Gaidamgari community, housing over 80,000 people. SOS Children’s Villages is mobilizing resources to assist flood victims, particularly vulnerable children, but we cannot do it alone. We call on the international community to join us in this critical effort to restore hope and rebuild lives."
We will continue to share updates as they become available.
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