Thousands still stranded in areas submerged days after massive flooding in northeast Nigeria

By Timothy Olanrewaju

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AA) – Thousands of people are still stranded in areas submerged days after massive flooding in Nigeria's northeast city, a UN envoy said on Saturday.

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria Mohamed Malk Fall said a lack of funds hampered the evacuation of many people trapped in areas submerged by Tuesday's heavy floods in northeast Madhuri, the worst in three decades.

"So far, we still have thousands of people who are in areas where water is yet to recede," Fall told journalists at a news conference in Maiduguri on Saturday after visiting displaced people in their camps.

He said the UN humanitarian organizations' priority is to work with the Nigerian government to evacuate victims from flooded areas and to provide assistance to displaced people to help them recover from traumatic experiences.

The UN is also concerned about flood's potential health risks, he said.

He said the humanitarian community cannot provide the exact number of people affected by the floods now since the rescue operation is still underway.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed 37 deaths and 58 injuries in flood-related incidents.

The authority said over one million people have been affected by the flood, with 414,000 more displaced.

More displaced people were evaluated and registered at internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps on Saturday.