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IMG_3129-min © Action contre la Faim

Press release

Lake Chad basin

People’s livelihoods threatened by severe flooding

Since the end of July, Chad has been hit by torrential rains. The provinces most affected are Lac, Mayo-Kebbi Est, Mandoul, Tandjilé and Batah. Sila, which has welcomed Sudanese refugees, has also been badly affected.  To date, some 1.5 million people have been affected, with 259,000 hectares of land submerged and some 67,000 head of livestock washed away.

“The affected populations are facing critical needs in terms of food, drinking water, shelter, health and protection.  According to initial estimates, nearly $100 million is needed to bring relief to these stricken populations. So far, barely 10% of this sum has been mobilized.” warns Gustave Gnagny, ACF’s Country Director in Chad. In the country, 3.4 million people are already critically food insecure.

In Nigeria, the states of Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Enugu, Jigawa, Kanu, Bayelsa and Yobe are among those most severely affected by the floods. Before the floods, more than 32 million people were already facing severe food insecurity, and 4.8 million people were in a food and nutrition crisis. The recent floods submerged 50% of Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, affecting 414,000 people. 24,169 people are also affected in Adamawa State, 57,827 in Bauchi State and 60,856 in Yobe State.

“The floods have damaged more than 125,000 hectares of farmland. The damage is likely to exacerbate food insecurity during the current lean season and in the months to come,” explains Thierno Samba Diallo, Country Director of Action contre la Faim in Nigeria.

In Cameroon’s Far-North, 236,000 people are affected by flooding and over 13,000 hectares of crops have been destroyed. Continued rains and rising water levels are leading to fears of a deteriorating situation and a growing risk of epidemics in the weeks ahead.

“Certain infrastructures such as bridges and dykes have already collapsed, which will generate massive population displacements. The priority needs are food, shelter and essential household items, as well as access to water, hygiene and sanitation. The general mobilization of the humanitarian community and donors is vital, the emergency is here!” calls Pascal Maillard, Country Director of Action contre la Faim in Cameroon.

In Chad, Nigeria and Cameroon, climatic shocks are becoming increasingly frequent. Ongoing heavy flooding is devastating farmland, decimating livestock and severely impacting people’s already fragile livelihoods.  Responding to the urgent needs of those affected is vital, but support to help affected households recover and adapt to climate change will also be essential in the months and years ahead.

Action contre la Faim has been active in Chad since 1981, in Nigeria since 2009, and in Cameroon since 2013, notably through projects in nutrition, health, mental health and psychosocial support, water, hygiene, sanitation, food security and livelihoods.

 

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