two million displaced in Nigerian flooding

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Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 4:45 am

Quote:

24 September 2010 Last updated at 20:34 GMT Share this pageFacebookTwitter ShareEmail Print Northern Nigeria flooding 'displaces two million' About two million people in northern Nigeria have been displaced after authorities opened the floodgates on two dams, an official says.

The flooding began suddenly when the gates on the Challawa and Tiga dams were opened, a spokesman for the Jigawa governor said.

The dams are in Kano state, but about 5,000 villages in neighbouring Jigawa state have been affected, he added.

Several states in northern Nigeria have been hit by floods this year.

It is not yet clear whether residents received a warning or if anyone was injured or went missing in the flooding, reported the Associated Press news agency.

The floodgates are normally opened every year during the rainy season.

Nigeria's meteorological agency had previously forecast low rainfall in the north, warning that more than 12 million people could face food shortages as a result, according to the AFP news agency.

In a normal year, the water released from the dams flows into fields, irrigating crops of corn, rice and vegetables during the brief growing season.

Jigawa and Kano are part of the Sahel region, a belt of semi-arid land south of the Sahara desert.

In neighbouring Niger, millions are facing food shortages after a prolonged drought caused crops to fail. That was followed by severe flooding last month. Millions are now facing food shortages.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11409167

Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 5:08 am

This from Medecins Sans Frontieres:

Quote:

More than 100,000 people have been forced to leave their homes due to flooding in northwestern Nigeria, after a dam failed on the Rima River near Goronyo, Sokoto State, on 8 September.

Dozens of villages were rapidly submerged when a large section of the Goronyo dam’s spillway collapsed. The area is experiencing one of the wettest rainy seasons on record, which is being blamed for the collapse of the spillway.

In the affected villages, people have been struggling to hold back the rising waters with sandbags. Thousands of mud-brick houses have been destroyed by the flood. Homeless people are living under improvised shelters of plastic sheeting and sticks, on whatever dry ground they can find. The fortunate are finding refuge with neighbours and families.

Others are fleeing to higher ground, wading with their families through floodwaters that are chest-deep in places, with their belongings balanced on their heads. At a secondary school in Goronyo town, thousands of people have sought shelter, along with their livestock. Conditions are cramped and unsanitary. People don’t know when they will be able to return to their villages, to salvage what is left of their homes and try to rebuild their lives.

In addition to losing their homes and possessions, many families have seen their crops completely wiped out, and their stores of food ruined. In an area where people depend on subsistence agriculture, this represents a complete loss of livelihood. For these families, finding sufficient food will be a major concern in the coming months.

Following initial flooding on 1 September, Médecins Sans Frontières distributed blankets and mosquito nets to thousands of displaced people and installed a water distribution system. In the coming days, Médecins Sans Frontières will conduct a larger distribution, delivering supplies for up to 60,000 people – including tarpaulins, blankets, mosquito nets and soap – along with 600,000 litres per day of clean water.

The full extent and numbers of people affected by the flooding are still unknown, and Médecins Sans Frontières is continuing to survey the area. Villages as far as 200 km from the dam have been affected. “It’s difficult to make an accurate assessment", said Médecins Sans Frontières project coordinator Chris Houston, “because the roads are cut off and we’re relying essentially on word of mouth.”

Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 5:29 am

So that´s three dams open then.

Quote:

Nigeria's meteorological agency had previously forecast low rainfall in the north, warning that more than 12 million people could face food shortages as a result, according to the AFP news agency.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Sad.

Click.

Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 6:31 am

I'm wondering if lads would sink as low as (pun not intended) using this as apart of their current or new scripts?

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

^^They will, bet on it.

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