By: Fatima Abubakar Maidugu
The recent devastating flood in the Kushari community of Maiduguri has raised alarms about a potential cholera outbreak.
The flooding, caused by heavy downpours and exacerbated by damaged drainage systems and a blocked waterway behind the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) quarters, has submerged over 100 homes. This situation has significantly impacted residents and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the area, heightening the risk of a cholera outbreak.
According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the flood has displaced over 400 residents and claimed some lives, creating an environment conducive to the spread of waterborne diseases.
“We are very concerned about the precarious living conditions and the potential outbreaks of cholera and malaria,” said Dr. Issaley Abdel Kader, MSF Head of Mission in Nigeria. “The number of children affected by malaria and acute watery diarrhoea had already started to increase before the flooding, and we have since seen some with clinical signs of cholera.”
MSF teams have been deployed to various displacement sites to assess needs and provide essential services.
Residents of Kushari are urging the government to prioritise the construction of drainage systems and invest in sustainable flood control measures to prevent future disasters.
