Over 2.4 million people in Nigeria, 60 percent of whom are children, are at risk of waterborne diseases, drowning and malnutrition as the country continues to grapple with the effect of flooding.

In a report by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the UN agency said that humanitarian needs in Nigeria are expected to rise in the coming weeks as rains are expected to continue for several weeks.

Severe flooding, which has affected 34 of the 36 states in Nigeria, has so far displaced 1.3 million people and claimed over 600 lives.

According to UNICEF, cases of diarrhoea and waterborne diseases, respiratory infections, and skin diseases have already risen since the floods started.

In the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, a over 7,000 cases of cholera and more than 319 associated deaths have been recorded.

‘Children and adolescents in flood-affected areas are in an extremely vulnerable situation’, said UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate.

‘They are particularly at risk of waterborne diseases and emotional and psychological distress. UNICEF is working closely with the government and other partners to provide life-saving assistance to those who are most in need’.

With the floods adding another layer of complexity to an already precarious humanitarian situation in the country, UNICEF said the immediate needs for children, including health, water, sanitation, shelter and food, must be prioritised.

Additional funding and resources are now required to respond to the growing needs and to sustain ongoing humanitarian interventions, with a focus on the most vulnerable, including children with disabilities.

Photo source: UNICEF