BY COMFORT ENOCH, ASMA'U MUHAMMAD, SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 | 11:23PM

Survivors of the devastating flooding in Maiduguri and Jere Local Government Areas of Borno State have continue to endure dire conditions, with many forced to camp along roadsides and sleep on verandas due to overcrowding in designated shelters.

The inadequate space in government camps, schools, and other facilities has pushed vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, into precarious situations with little to no protection from the elements.

Families have set up temporary camps in open areas such as Dalori, Tashan Bama, and around the gates of the University of Maiduguri, where they face daily struggles for survival.

These makeshift camps, exposed to mosquitoes, cholera, and other health risks, offer no respite from the harsh weather, leading to dire conditions for those already traumatized by the flooding.

Mairo Musa, a mother of four, camping near Gate One of the University of Maiduguri, shared her harrowing experience.

'The little food that is brought to us is sometimes snatched by stronger people. We don’t want to fight and get injured, so we give up the food and stay hungry,' she explained.

Mairo’s mother had already been moved to a facility in Gwange after being injured by children who attacked her for food. Mairo also recounted how the nights bring even more challenges, as they are forced to vacate verandas when shop owners arrive in the morning to open their stores.

'Our children hardly get anything to eat, and we sacrifice what little we have for the younger ones. Even then, it’s not enough. At night, mosquitoes and the cold make our lives unbearable,' she said.

Halima Usman, another survivor, described the frantic rush to save her children as floodwaters rapidly rose in their home.

'I couldn’t carry anything with me. The water came up so quickly that it reached my waist by the time I got my children to safety,' she recalled, now struggling with illness as a result of living in unsanitary conditions by the roadside.

Fatima Musa, a girl between the ages of 10 and 15, sent to beg for food.

'We missed the food distribution at our camp because of fights. So now, we come here to look for food,' she said.

Halima Musa, a mother camping by the roadside, expressed her frustration.

'It’s hard to get medicine here. Unlike those in government camps, we have no access to health facilities, and we are already sick,' she said.

She also urged the government to ensure food and aid distributions reach those living outside formal camps, many of whom lack the official cards required to receive support.

As the flooding aftermath drags on, the conditions faced by survivors remain grim, especially for those displaced and forced to live in exposed, unsanitary conditions.

Survivors are now pleading with the government, humanitarian organizations, and the public to extend more comprehensive support to those camping by roadsides and in other open areas.

Without immediate intervention, they risk being further marginalized in the ongoing relief efforts.

Their stories reveal a stark need for coordinated action to provide relief, prevent disease outbreaks, and offer them the dignity of safe and adequate shelter.

'We are not asking for much, we just want the chance to live with some safety and the hope that someone will care enough to help,' Halima added.