How Our Response is Restoring Dignity to Maiduguri Flood Victims

In Maiduguri, Konduga, and Jere LGAs of Borno, over 400,000 people were displaced following flash floods caused by the collapse of the Alau Dam on the 10th of September 2024. Lives were turned upside down in a matter of hours, Homes were washed away, families displaced, and countless people were left grappling with a new and terrifying reality. For many of the women and girls affected, the loss wasn’t just physical; their dignity was at stake.

In response to the devastating floods that struck Maiduguri, ActionAid collaborated with its partners- HALI and CATAI to launch an immediate response across some affected areas. Some of the hardest-hit areas were Abaganaram and old Maiduguri; key communities where HALI and CATAI are currently implementing the SPA II project through ActionAid. 

With the needs assessments carried out by IOM and informing us of WASH and hygiene supplies to be one of the immediate needs of affected persons across camps and communities, we set out to distribute dignity kits and were able to meet the essential needs of the most vulnerable, providing not only hygiene supplies but also a sense of self-worth in a time of despair.

As part of the support provided by ActionAid, CATAI and HALI through the SPA II project, we have taken action to address the urgent needs of those affected by the crisis, particularly young girls and women. Our response includes the provision of dignity kits to 840 individuals, containing mosquito nets, under wears, laundry soap, bathing soap, detergents, body oil, disinfectants, and sanitary pads to women and girls. As part of the response, our partners also set up protection desks and has identified over 500 cases with referrals made to partners, conducting family reunification, provision of shelters, and livelihood support. 

One story stands out. Falmata, a widow and mother of three, who lost her home to the flood. When we met her at the Teachers Village camp, she was overwhelmed by the loss and unsure of how to care for her children until the waters receded. When she received the dignity kit, her tears turned into gratitude. It wasn’t just about the contents of the kit; it was about the message it carried- that someone still cared that she and her family were not forgotten.

“The flood took everything, but this reminds me that there’s still hope,” Falmata told us, holding the pack close to her chest. It was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do.

Through our partners, we were able to distribute 840 dignity kits to women and girls like Falmata, ensuring they had the basic tools to manage their hygiene, but more importantly, giving them the strength to face the uncertain days ahead with renewed confidence.

In addition to the Dignity Kits, HALI and CATAI expanded its emergency support by offering wet feeding to the affected communities, reaching 9,781 people in MMC and 11,721 people in Jere, particularly in the SPA II implementing areas of HALI which include Gubio Camp, Zajeri Camp, Teachers Village, Galtimari Camp Etc.  The Hot Meals distribution occurred at the height of the disaster, offering timely relief to households grappling with the immediate impacts of displacement, hunger, and loss of livelihoods.

Our response to the Maiduguri flood wasn’t just about aid- it was about standing with these women and families, helping them hold onto their dignity amid devastation. Together, with our partners, we provided not just material support, but the emotional reassurance that no one would face this hardship alone.

ActionAid continues to mobilize resources to distribute blankets and tarpaulin sheets to women and girls while providing further assistance to help restore livelihoods lost during the disaster. We remain committed through our partners to strengthening referral pathways, ensuring that GBV survivors have access to essential services, including case management, family reunification, and psychosocial support, in these emergency.