UNDERWHELMING HANDLING OF OVERWHELMING CATASTROPHIC FLOODS IN NIGERIA.
Save ----- Our----- Souls

BY: Eben Dokubo

Superlatives are insufficient to capture and portray the on-going carnage, devastation, ruin, despair, and anguish unleashed on various parts of Nigeria by unprecedented floods.

Torrents of large volumes of ravaging water bulldoze their way from a gigantic dam in the neighboring country of Cameroon on a journey to the Atlantic ocean which can only be accessed via vast swathes of land comprising villages, farms, cities, pristine forests, and swamps.

Amongst the affected States are Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Kogi, and Benue. Others include Anambra, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Imo. Most of the flooded areas in these States have been submerged in up to two meters of water for several weeks. It is expected that it might take another six to ten weeks for the flood waters to dissipate, leaving in its wake a trail of horrendous destruction. Put together, the affected area is tens of thousands of square kilometers.

Hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children are facing fear, hunger, starvation, disease and desperation. They are shell- shocked and displaced, destitute and dying an agonizing slow death.

There is no electricity.

Rare tropical plants, flowers, wildlife, domestic animals, and livestock have either been destroyed or forced out of their natural habitat.

The best efforts of Federal, State, and Local Government authorities have only scratched the surface.
Most of the affected areas are inaccessible and incommunicado.

For an ongoing widespread disaster of this magnitude, an urgent global response is imperative. Consequently, an ad-hoc global consortium ought to emerge instantly to save souls and present a lifeline for rescue, revival, rebooting, rebuilding, and restoration.

The following are are amongst items and services required urgently in no particular order)

Potable water in sachets and bottles

MRE ( meals ready to eat) protein and vitamin fortified crackers. (The type of rations used by the military in combat zones)

Inflatable boats

Bailey bridges ( can be procured off the shelf, air lifted to Nigeria and installed within days)

Helicopter services with amphibious and Search & Rescue capabilities

Barges and Tugboats

Speed boats

Four-wheel drive trucks

Drones for aerial survey, monitoring, and delivery of critical supplies.

Mobile field hospitals with trauma and theater facilities. (as in M*A*S*H*)

Portable electric generators

Tents

Solar power units

Disinfectants

Soap

Baby food

Baby clothes

Pampers

Toys

Oral Rehydration Therapy kits

Sanitary pads

Sanitizers

Sweaters

Socks

Water purification units

Water purification tablets

Light weight blankets

Adult clothes

Loin cloths and wrappers

Unlimited fast internet access

Smartphones

Building materials

Mattresses

Mosquito nets

Pillows

Rechargeable lamps

Power banks

Rain boots

Drugs and pharmaceutical supplies

Satellite maps and photos of affected areas ( NOW & BEFORE images)

The hardest hit Triangle of Horror are Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta States which constitute the gateway to the Atlantic ocean.

Following the outbreak of the Corona virus pandemic, the world rallied round to combat the scruge. The WHO provided a template which Nigeria used. We do not have a template for monster floods. Our ingenuity will be of help but we cannot go it alone.

WE NEED URGENT GLOBAL INTERVENTION. !!!