Dreams on hold
Uncertainty among families as flood displaces communities in Adamawa state
Since the flood came weeks ago, we have not been able to train; I miss training. My dream is to become a footballer and play in big leagues so that I can help my community
Adiel lives in Bwarranji, a sloppy community in Adamawa state, where most residents are low-income earners, who subsisted on fishing. Every day, young people in Bwarranji took their shots at football stardom as they trained on a football ground, which stretches across the length of the community. Adiel has seen people play football there since he was a toddler. He believes the tradition has been going on for decades.
In October 2023, the release of water from Lagdo dam in Cameroun resulted in the flooding of communities downstream Nigeria. Bwarranji is one of over 200 communities that were impacted in the state. Nearly 10,000 people across eight local government areas in the state have been displaced from their homes. Adiel’s football ground was flooded, disrupting his dreams.
Like it did Adiel’s dream, the flood destroyed the livelihoods and property of many families. “The flood has carried away our properties and damaged what little was left.” 30-year-old Jimrei Lanboi says.
A significant percentage of the affected families have taken refuge in makeshift camps, where they have constrained access to basic needs and amenities. Cramped across these camps with poor hygiene conditions, families are at heightened risk of diseases; children are at risk of missing out on education, lifesaving routine immunization and other healthcare services.
More than 160 schools in the state have also been impacted by the flood. Many of these schools have shut down after being flooded, while some were converted to camps for the displaced families — hindering learning for thousands of children in a state, where early childhood education rate is at 23.5 percentage. “Women and children are the most impacted in emergencies such as this. As you can see, children’s education and health are already affected; women are lacking access to basic needs, especially those critical to their dignity and hygiene” UNICEF WASH Officer, Uba Lawal explains.
In collaboration with the state government, UNICEF has mobilized response for the affected families. Across the camps, affected families received water purification kits to enhance access to potable water. Women received hygiene kits and dignity kits which include menstrual pads, soaps, inner wears, and others. “All the women in the camp were excited when they saw pads in the package we received; it was a big relief” 32-year-old Aisha Abubakar says from a school-turned-IDP camp.
UNICEF also facilitated the availability of essential health commodities, including drugs and first aid kits, and has deployed special health teams to provide healthcare services, including treatment of waterborne diseases and provision of maternal and child health services in the temporary camps. Ambulances are stationed in some of the camps to ease transportation to health facilities should there be a referral.
“Most importantly, we have also upscaled our hygiene, health and nutrition promotion messaging to affected families. With the right knowledge, they can keep safe as they wait for the water to recede and go back to their homes” Uba further explains.
The flood and the ensuing impact on families are a stark reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness in vulnerable communities. While the support from UNICEF, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, Adamawa State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency is enabling affected families to cope in the meantime, the dreams and wellbeing of many like Adiel hang in the balance. As Aisha tearfully puts it “Even when we return home, where are we supposed to start from? Everything is gone.”
