WaterAid Nigeria, an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) has warned that devastating floods which have wrecked many states and communities may further lead to outbreaks of diseases.
The organisation gave the warning in a statement by the Acting Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria Abu Jibril.
Nigeria has been hit by devastating flooding over the past weeks, which reportedly claimed no fewer than 603 people, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people after their homes were submerged.
The statement by WaterAid Nigeria reads: “The flooding has increased the risks for communities in flood-prone regions, in a country where an estimated 38 million people are still forced to defecate in the open, and tens of millions more have very limited access to other forms of sanitation.
“People who have been forced out from their homes need food and shelter, but they also need access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. The number of displaced people forced to live in camps where access to safe water and good sanitation is further compromised have increased. A decent toilet and a bar of soap can literally save lives now, as they prevent diseases from breaking out.
The Federal Government has started a campaign to stop people from defecating in the open. But we also need support from international governments and donors to ensure that communities that did the least to cause this crisis, are able to adapt to the changing circumstances and build resilience against future shocks.