Flood Crisis in West and Central Africa: Alau Dam Collapse
On Tuesday, September 10, the collapse of the Alau Dam in northern Nigeria exacerbated the current flooding across West and Central Africa. T
The dam, located 20 kilometers from Maiduguri, Borno State’s capital, burst after weeks of severe rain, drowning parts of the city and damaging thousands of homes in a region of almost one million people.
The collapse has killed 30 people and displaced over 400,000 others, exacerbating the devastating effects of Nigeria’s flooding. As of September 6, the United Nations had already reported over 200 deaths and 225,000 displacements. Borno State remains one of the most impacted areas.
The floodwaters also wrecked schools, health institutions, and businesses, halting economic activity in Maiduguri.
The situation has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis in a region plagued by the Boko Haram insurgency.
With rains persisting and 50,000 people remained in Maiduguri’s displaced persons camps, assistance attempts are hampered by local insecurity, exacerbating the situation.
