Cologne/Maiduguri. Enduring heavy rainfall has led to the breaking of the Alau dam close to the city of Maiduguri. Around 40 percent of the metropolis in the northeast of Nigeria are flooded – approximately 280,000 people are affected by the water masses. Nigeria’s government estimates the number of affected persons distinctly higher with up to one million. Malteser International distributes 800 cholera prevention kits and 1,000 hygiene kits in Bakasi refugee camp.

„The hygiene situation is very poor. The water masses bring feces and animal cadavers with them. Even before the breaking of the dam, the situation in Maiduguri was difficult due to the heavy rainfalls of the past weeks. But the water masses that have reached the city after the dam broke are immense. Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their houses and farm animals,” says Michael Steffen, Country Officer for Nigeria at Malteser International, who is currently on the ground in Maiduguri.

The local authorities have asked for humanitarian support. Malteser International plans further relief measures. The flexible financial support of the German Federal Foreign Office made it possible for us to react swiftly and apply our resources for the benefit of the affected people.

Malteser International has been active in northeastern Nigeria since 2017, helping to improve the living conditions in both camps and host communities. Our core tasks are in providing potable water and cholera prevention. In addition, Malteser International supports women and girls who have been subjected to violence.

Malteser International (MI) works as an international humanitarian aid organization. It is an aid organization of the Catholic Order of Malta and particularly fulfills the order’s mission of “helping those in need”. The mission is to improve the health and living conditions of suffering and displaced people worldwide. The organization provides aid to people in need in over 140 projects in 37 countries, regardless of religion, political conviction, origin or gender. Christian values and the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence form the basis of its work. For further information please visit: www.malteser-international.org/en   

Attention editors:

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Michael Steffen, Country Officer for Nigeria at Malteser International, is available for interviews and sound bites.

Contact: +49 (0)221 9822- 7181 or – 7180, katharina.kiecol@malteser-international.org

 

 

The affected people in Nigeria are in urgent need of donations.

Malteser Hilfsdienst e. V.
IBAN: DE10 3706 0120 1201 2000 12
S.W.I.F.T.: GENODED 1PA7
Keyword: „Nigeria”