As floodwaters from the Alau Dam gradually recede, residents of Maiduguri who were displaced are starting to return to their homes. Many of those who had been sleeping outside are now assessing the damage and trying to salvage what they can.
Ali Bana from Gwange ward mentioned, “We are rushing to see what is left of our homes and salvage any usable remnants of our property.” Meanwhile, Musa Abdullahi from Gomari ward reported that while he managed to reach his house, it is still flooded, indicating that it may be several more days before he can move back in.
According to a situation report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 239,000 people have been affected by the flooding. The report highlighted that some victims have been forced to move to the Muna IDP camp, which was already hosting over 50,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). Government authorities have evacuated residents from high-risk riverine areas to various locations.
The floods have disrupted communication, power, and water supply in most parts of Maiduguri.