The United Nations has issued a warning over a potential cholera outbreak in Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps in Maiduguri, Borno State, following recent flooding in the area.
The UN is concerned that the floodwaters may contaminate water sources, leading to the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, in the already vulnerable IDP camps.
A report released by the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said the immediate needs are food, protection, shelter and clean water, adding that some water sources are contaminated, and could lead to outbreaks of diseases such as Cholera.
It wrote, “The immediate needs are food, shelter and clean water, with some water sources contaminated. Protection remains a major concern, especially among unaccompanied and separated children, older persons and people living with disabilities.
Intermediate needs include non-food items and interventions to prevent the outbreak of diseases such as cholera in congested sites. The floods have also affected nutrition stabilization centres treating severely malnourished children in MMC and Jere LGAs.
“Beyond MMC and Jere LGAs in Borno State, the Dalwa community in Damboa LGA is also affected, with Bama and Gwoza LGAs similarly reporting flooding. Before the recent flash floods, almost 123,000 people in Borno State were affected by floods and windstorms since August. The floods have destroyed critical infrastructure and heightened the risk of disease outbreaks especially in overcrowded IDP camps.
