Heavy rains have ravaged 30 of the country’s 36 states, the UN refugee agency said. UN refugee agency, said on tuesday.
The government has reported 269 deaths so far, while more than a million people have been affected and more than 640,000 have been displaced.
Major dam break
Nigeria is one of the few West African countries hit by torrential rains that have caused devastating floods, affecting millions of people in the region.
The northeastern city of Maiduguri, capital of Borno state and a key humanitarian hub, is the epicentre of the crisis there.
The rains have caused the nearby Alau Dam to burst, causing severe flooding and displacing more than 400,000 people in recent days.
Half of Maiduguri is submerged and most residents have lost everything, many already displaced by conflict or the effects of climate change.
Displaced again
Arjun Jain, UNHCR’s representative in Nigeria, said the floods are a result of years of displacement, food insecurity and economic hardship, with disastrous consequences.
“Communities that had rebuilt their lives after years of conflict and violence were hit by the floods and displaced again.“, he told journalists attending the UN’s regular humanitarian briefing in Geneva.
Help for families
In response to the crisis, UNHCR and partners are working tirelessly to support those affected.
Staff provide tarpaulins, blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets and other essential items. Emergency aid is also being provided to single-parent families, people with disabilities and families with young children to help them purchase food and other necessities.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (World Food Programme) has set up food banks in four camps in Maiduguri, where families can receive nutritious meals of rice and beans.
WFP is expanding support in West Africa, where torrential rains have caused catastrophic flooding affecting more than four million people in 14 countries.
The agency is providing emergency cash and food aid to people in the worst-affected areas of Chad, Liberia, Mali and Niger.
At the same time, WFP calls for investment in early warning systems, disaster risk financing and other measures to reduce flood and climate risks.
Urgent action required
In Nigeria, however, UNHCR warned that stocks are rapidly dwindling, meaning the agency can only meet less than 10 percent of urgent needs.
“When the floodwaters finally recede, Thousands of families will face the daunting task of returning to their destroyed homes. They will need significant support to rebuild homes, livelihoods and a sense of normalcy,” Mr Jain said.
Meanwhile, the UN and partners are collecting more data to assess and address overall needs.
“But we can’t afford to wait“, he warned. “The urgency of this crisis demands immediate action and increased support for flood-affected families, in Maiduguri and elsewhere in Nigeria.”
Mr Jain said there were currently 3.6 million displaced people in Nigeria, mostly in the North-East, and the country was hosting nearly 100,000 asylum seekers and refugees.
UNHCR is appealing for $107.1 million for operations there this year, but he said the appeal was only 28 percent funded by the end of August.