Northern Nigeria's city of Maiduguri has been hit by devastating flooding. But is it due to government neglect or climate change or both?
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00:00This is Maiduguri.
00:04Almost half the city is submerged after torrential rains caused the dam to burst earlier this
00:09week.
00:11While flooding is not uncommon in this part of northern Nigeria, authorities say it is
00:16the worst flood for three decades.
00:20Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced from their homes and are in need of
00:24food and shelter.
00:27The United Nations World Food Programme has set up soup kitchens.
00:32They say the flooding has compounded several already existing problems.
00:38This region has been facing conflict for a decade and more recently we have seen food
00:47inflation where food prices have been skyrocketing, really affecting millions of the people who
00:59are facing food insecurity.
01:02The rescue operation continues with thousands still trapped, unable to escape as water levels
01:08have yet to recede.
01:11Many are still missing.
01:15I have one son and I have not seen or heard from him in three days.
01:19We got out after the flood overpowered us.
01:22It was really hard but thanks to the soldiers who helped us to safety.
01:26Right now we're still searching for my son.
01:30Initially we didn't expect it to end up like this but as it progressed it kept getting
01:35worse.
01:36Eventually we had to leave our home.
01:38A lot of people have lost their lives.
01:42India is already facing acute food shortages and with so much farmland now waterlogged,
01:47humanitarian agencies say they still need more assistance.