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Catholic Diocese in Nigeria Appeals for Help, Prayers after Thousands Displaced by Floods

Credit: Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri

The Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri in Nigeria is appealing for prayers and humanitarian assistance for thousands of people, who were displaced by floods that intensified on Tuesday, September 10.

In a September 10 Facebook post, the Nigerian Diocese announced that the flooding in Maiduguri, a city in Borno Estate of north-eastern Nigeria, is the worst the region has experienced in decades.

Images that were circulated on social media platforms showed a submerged St. Patrick’s Cathedral of Maiduguri Diocese and a few visible rooftops of buildings in the surrounding areas of the city that has been known for having been the center of Boko Haram activities.

The catastrophic event is believed to be the result of damage to the Alau Dam, located a few kilometers from Maiduguri city.

Explaining the nature of the devastation in the September 10 Facebook post, the Diocese said, “Maiduguri city experienced the worst flooding in over 30 years… Thousands have been rendered homeless and no one knows the number of fatalities yet.”

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“Please pray for us,” the Diocese said, adding that it had been working on reaching out for support in attending to the affected.

“Kindly give what you can to assist”, the Nigerian Diocese said, adding, “Help spread this message… and pray for us.”

The Diocese said that there was no food, shelter or sanitation facilities for those who had been displaced by the floods, adding, “Government has reopened the IDP camps, but these are overwhelmed by the number of those seeking refuge.”

In further attempts to describe the nature of the catastrophe, the Diocese said the raging waters had broken a zoo, allowing dangerous animals to roam freely.

“There are also news reports of a prison break,” the Diocese reported.

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Meanwhile, the pontifical charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, has launched an urgent appeal for prayer and support for the affected community of Maiduguri.

In a Wednesday, September 11 statement, ACN says that it had contacted the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri to determine the extent of the damage, its impact on the community, and the immediate needs of those affected.

ACI Africa was founded in 2019. We provide free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Catholic Church in Africa, giving particular emphasis to the words of the Holy Father and happenings of the Holy See, to any person with access to the internet. ACI Africa is proud to offer free access to its news items to Catholic dioceses, parishes, and websites, in order to increase awareness of the activities of the universal Church and to foster a sense of Catholic thought and culture in the life of every Catholic.