A West African Tragedy: Nigerian Floods 

Introduction

While West Africa’s rainy seasons usually start from May and end around October each year it has been starting earlier than usual each time. Every year more severe than the last. There is a major flood going on in Nigeria. It is destroying buildings, farms, entire roads and diminishing people’s sense of day to day life. The Nigerian economy is already in disarray. Over 90 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty that is over 41% of the population. As a Nigerian, I cannot begin to think what these people are going through.

A humanitarian crisis

These floods are heavily affecting the poverty stricken areas of the country.The flood has caused children to stop being able to school, diminished access to medication and food, separating families and disrupting the lives of so many people. When the flood came it ruined entire farms. To the point where there are children crying of hunger. All of the crops being removed, tragedies like this affect entire villages. Thousands of people are dying and no one is doing anything. This is a very upsetting time for Nigerian citizens. In Borno state the flood washed away the bridge that linked it’s cities, meaning that there is no access to an entire sectionof the flooded city. There are a multitude of people impacted by this humanitarian crisis and need help.

Failure to the people

The failure of the Nigerian government to make a change for their people is heartbreaking. This flooding is a multi-causal event. Things such as ignorance to climate change, entire dams being let down, rivers overflowing etc. Nigeria not being able to build a dam of its own is worsening the situation. The negligence of the government to assume more responsibility and aid the people in need showcases the severity of the problem. What happens after the flood? Will people be able to get back to their daily lives? Who is going to be able to support the citizens in this devastating situation?

Conclusion

This major flood has afflicted/ended the lives of thousands of citizens. I am especially concerned for the people of Nigeria and for what is to come. Who will step in this time of need and when will they? Until the Nigerian government is ready to accept the circumstances of today no reform will occur. A large quantity of people will have to put their lives back together piece

by piece. It’s effects will for sure remain even after the water has subsided.

Quotes:

“It’s heartbreaking that while we’re stressing about trivial things such as exams and homework students in Nigeria are just trying to survive. -Zara Akhtar

“I can’t imagine the idea of losing my home and school all at once. This is such a devastating crisis.” -Leiah Guirand

“Hearing about this made me realize how much I take for granted. I wish there was more we could do to help.” -Sann Meilory Gay