The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that it has evacuated 117 people from four medical facilities affected by the rising waters in Borno state.
The Public Relations Officer, ICRC Aliyu Dawobe, said in a statement on Monday in Abuja that the cross also donated 150 body bags to the NRCS, the State Specialist Hospital and the State Emergency Management Agency.
“Alau Dam breached it banks in the early hours of 10 September, causing flooding in Maiduguri.
“Prior to the incident, heavy rainfall flooded many areas in the state affecting road access.
“More than 414,000 people have been affected with many houses and crops destroyed.
“There is real concern for the civilian population already affected by on-going protracted conflict,’’ Dawobe said.
According to him, in coordination with the ICRC, Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) volunteers and staff have been involved in search and rescue operations.
He said that they also carried out medical evacuations and gave first aid, as well as reuniting families separated by floodwaters and the safe and dignified management of dead bodies.
“Their teams have retrieved 22 dead bodies to date, while 76 children have been reunited with their families.
“A total of 117 people were evacuated from four medical facilities affected by the rising waters.
“The ICRC has also donated 150 body bags to the NRCS, the State Specialist Hospital and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
“NRCS has launched hygiene promotion activities in three camps hosting flood affected communities in coordination with the ICRC,’’ Dawobe said.
Dawobe said as part of a cholera preparedness drive, the ICRC was positioning contingency stock including AquaTabs and Chlorine powder to respond.
“NRCS volunteers are being trained on how to use these materials and are prioritising the cleaning of wells, hand pumps, boreholes, and other community water sources.
“The ICRC has organised psychosocial support sessions for NRCS staff and volunteers who have been involved in multiple flood response activities.
“In the coming days, the ICRC in close cooperation with NRCS, will handover essential household items to affected households, including mats, blankets, tarpaulins, kitchen kits, mosquito nets, buckets, jerry cans, soap, hygiene kits and loincloths,’’ he said.
According to him, ICRC also assisted Niger, Cameroon and Chad to address their flood issues.
