Flooding in Niger
Flooding in Niger has impacted more nearly 300,000 people, destroying 26,000 homes. Thousands of hectares of agricultural land in Niger has been impacted. Niger is experiencing a complex and protracted humanitarian crisis. Malnutrition, food insecurity, population displacement, epidemics and floods continue to cause humanitarian crises. The Humanitarian Needs Overview for 2020 (HNO) has estimated that approximately 2.9 million people including 1.6 million children will need assistance in 2020. The HRP for 2020 aims to support 1.9 million people across Niger, including 518,000 in the Diffa, 581,000 in Zinder and 490,000 people in Maradi.
Torrential rainfall in Niger since June has impacted more than 281,000 people, destroying 26,000 houses and killing 51 people, according to government data. In addition, several thousands of hectares of cultivated farms have been swamped, which would impact food production. Floods have been reported in all seven regions in the country. The month of August 2020 has particularly witnessed heavy rains that has exacerbated the flooding, culminating in the loss of lives, damage to property and sources of livelihood and exposed the population to the risk of communicable diseases throughout Niger.
The lack of coping capacity and vulnerability of the affected populations is of particular concern especially with the presence of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is exacerbating the precarious situation of those already affected. In addition, according to rain forecast services, more heavy rains are expected that could increase the caseload of affected people. The displaced communities are taking refuge in local schools or host families. Since the school year is set to begin within few weeks, this pose a serious problem, as access to education will be curtailed. The schools have to be freed and repaired before the start date. There is high risk that these repairs will not be completed before the start date if urgent measures are not taken to address the needs of the displaced population.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Action has recognised and communicated the acute needs of the affected population and is inviting partner humanitarian organizations to assist in responding to the crisis. The government of Niger has invited its humanitarian partners to support in mobilizing USD 16.5 million in responding to the floods. The priority needs are food, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, education and protection services1. Additional funding is required to continue providing timely aid to the affected population. The most affected regions are Maradi (104,501 affected people), Tahoua (41,563 affected people) and Dosso (40,222 affected people).
Niamey humanitarian situation
Over the weekend of August 28-30, 2020, the flooding situation escalated in the capital Niamey. The Niger president went out to meet the victims of the flooding, which are now estimated at 32,500 households nationwide according to the state house webpage. It is estimated that in Niamey alone, over 5,000 houses collapsed leaving 31,000 persons without shelter. The majority of the affected persons are the children who are at high risk of missing school as well as of catching the infectious diseases such as diarrhea, acute respiratory diseases, and malaria, which rank among the highest children killer diseases in Niger. OCHA is still working for establishing details for figures concerning the capital Niamey.
Beside the needs for food, warm clothing and shelter, the flooding situation comes to hinder the start of the school year scheduled within a week. Most affected people have now sought shelter in schools and there is an urgent need to assist them and free the schools to avoid postponing the school start date. There is also need to assist students and teachers in school materials as well as in repairing the schools that have been destroyed by the floods.
Maradi humanitarian situation
The situation is escalating as Maradi region is facing enormous crises including the effects of malnutrition, the movement of population from Nigeria (with more than 70,000 people including more than 45,000 children), food insecurity (Aguié department remain the most affected) and now floods. All nine administrative entities in the region have been affected, but to varying degrees.
There is also a risk of malnutrition as the tiny stock is often washed away by floods. Threats to protection may arise as result of this situation, such as gender-based violence or other cases of protection or exploitation. Schools were affected by the floods (already more than 100 classes collapsed) and this could jeopardize the start of the school year, which is expected to start within a few weeks from now. In addition, with the floods, there is a high risk on the back-to-school season as the affected people occupy the classrooms at the school level
It should note that Maradi is part of the most populated region of Niger after Zinder and the poorest region in Niger. The population density is quite high in the affected areas with quite limited infrastructure (health posts, integrated health centers, schools, etc.). The flooding of hectares of crops further exacerbates the precariousness of populations already affected by food insecurity.