Modupe Olalere
Adamawa State in Nigeria recently experienced severe flooding caused by heavy and continuous torrential rains. Flooding occurred, resulting in confirmed deaths of at least 25 people and displacing more than 5,560 residents from their homes, showing the severe impacts of climate change in the region. A disaster of this magnitude not only has a troubling human aspect, but also ushers in vulnerabilities to be exposed in transportation and emergency response sectors, which are quickly becoming overused with complaints about the frequency and tenor of disaster-related weather events. In flooded communities, the thoroughfares being used in and out of temporary camps can hardly be safely navigated, critical infrastructure remains in bad or worse condition, and the ultimate ramifications of climate change on safety and development are yet to be determined.
The flooding catastrophically struck Adamawa State. Whole blocks and full villages were engulfed and swept away in a rapidly moving torrent. Houses were wrecked or rendered unusable as mud and debris filled the streets. There have been deaths reported, with as many as 25 people cited as drownings due to the floods. Displacement risks rapidly spreading as thousands of residents are forced out of their homes into temporary camps hastily prepared at alternative ground shelter locations.
Life in the camps is hard. Families are crowded into sites under plastic tarps and tents, often without access to the most essential things of life, such as drinkable water, sanitation, nutritious food, and health care. Homes are disrupted, and families are displaced. Children are out of school, and families lack reliable incomes.
An evacuated victim noted the stark harshness of their situation, stating, “The water came out of nowhere, washed away our homes, our belongings, and we barely escaped with our lives. We now sit and wait for help to come.” Many of the displaced people are farmers who have lost crops, livestock, and the opportunity to make a living. In addition, the floods have washed away fertile topsoil, meaning it will not be reinstated for future planting seasons.
Adamawa’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, which supports about 80% of the population. However, the weather patterns, which alternate between floods and dry spells, imply farming is becoming increasingly unreliable. As for climate change, these conditions have begun to take a toll on food output and food security, both of which are affected by inactivity because field systems are destroyed, flooded, or removed.
While humanitarian organisations (NGOs) respond to these situations optimally, attempting to distribute limited emergency food, water purification tablets, and medical assistance to communities displaced by flooding, the scale has now grown due to each related event following floods. At present, many households that were able to help themselves for a while, in turn, depend on ongoing support from less and less well-resourced NGOs.
In addition to the loss of homes and lives, the floods caused extensive damage to vital transport networks necessary for survival and recovery. Roads, particularly rural feeder roads, were inundated or washed away, making many communities inaccessible. Roadways were turned into rivers, thereby trapping whole communities and limiting access to help.
Bridges across swollen rivers were damaged or washed away, removing significant transport options for emergency services, supply, and evacuation movements. With blocked highways, food and supplies had to drive considerable distances around the blockage, where road or weight conditions and timing were threats in their own right. The inability to maintain safe and accessible transport options prevented rescue and recovery efforts.
Transport disruptions happened in air travel, too, and flooding disrupted operations at regional airports. As a result, rescue and service flights were delayed or cancelled, slowing the transfer of supplies to vulnerable groups and the evacuation.
Climate experts warn that disruptions to transport infrastructure will occur more frequently because of climate change. The increased frequency, intensity, and severity of extreme weather will, in all probability, weaken and eventually fracture supply chains, hinder economic activity, and heighten humanitarian crises.
A regional aviation authority official stated, “Flooding around airports and access roadways results in cascading delays; it not only limits immediate/short-term search and rescue response but also disrupts regional connections for the transportation network.” He acknowledged that recovering these systems requires costly improvements to infrastructure resilience, but insisted it is critical to avoid these failures during future climatic shocks.
Transportation infrastructure that is not climate resilient creates a bottleneck for disaster response. Heavy rainfall and flooding can rapidly make travel dangerous or impossible, further endangering evacuation processes for residents. Vulnerable states, such as Adamawa, suffer as every disaster shock sets them back even further in development action when they are made more vulnerable through repeated exposure to shocks without sufficient mitigation.
The floods in Adamawa illustrate the increasing demands on Nigeria’s emergency management system. Climate change is causing increased frequency and intensity of disasters. Emergency management agencies face competing demands and challenges, including insufficient budgets, inadequate staffing, outdated equipment, and poor early warning systems.
Responding to flash floods and evacuating communities at risk requires gathering timely information and a coordinated operational plan where each member of the response group (local authorities, charities, government agencies) is invited to the table to agree on a collective response. In practice, organising operational plans on the ground can be difficult, as terrain, communications, and damaged infrastructure often complicate the response effort. Without predictive information and integrated transportation systems in place, first responders may arrive late and be unable to access highly vulnerable people in need.
Worse still, economic hardship takes its toll. Inflation and unemployment negatively affect households’ ability to save or invest in protective approaches, such as flood defences and flood-resilient homes. Official development assistance and government budgets favour other competing priorities, with disaster readiness not included in their limited budgets.
The commissioner for the environment in Adamawa summed up the ongoing crisis: “We are experiencing the most difficult agricultural season to date. We have flooding on one side and drought on the other. Unless we receive immediate help, our communities will remain trapped in cycles of vulnerability”.
In light of the recent calamity in Adamawa, there is growing recognition for the need for climate adaptation strategies addressing local contexts in areas where people live or may potentially settle—broadly, enhancing the flood defences that exist already; developing adequate drainage; promoting sustainable land use and using development planning that includes disaster risk reduction that is participatory.
International organisations are advocating for a shift from only reactive emergency aid to pre-emptive risk management. The systems supporting early warning cannot assist in progressing and mainstreaming risk reduction until legislation is developed and infrastructure support and funding (pre-emptive infrastructure) are provided for future events. Pre-emptive planning can limit the severity of future disasters. Sustainability must also be a focus for mitigation planning, particularly for sectors most vulnerable to changes, with weather impacting the ability of the agriculture and transport sectors to operate profitably.
Suppose disasters like those in Adamawa are to be avoided or managed as changes unfold. In that case, we must understand that the intersection between climate change, displacement, and fragile infrastructure (and livelihood) vulnerability exists.
The situation in Adamawa reflects the urgent need for adaptive, responsive approaches to address the increasing complexities of living with environmental change in vulnerable regions. The current plight of thousands of people who are suffering and are still suffering illustrates the need for well-coordinated and collaborative actions between governments, living communities, and humanitarian organisations to strengthen preparation and response capabilities.