Displacement & Migration Emergencies Humanitarian Crises Photo Essay

Photo Essay (II): Vestiges of Buildings Destroyed by Maiduguri Flood

For many locals, recovering from the ruins of the devastating flooding is another long, painful journey.

Usman Abba Zanna September 21, 2024

For thousands affected by the recent flooding in Maiduguri, North East Nigeria, recovery is another long journey of pain and adversity. The devastating floods have taken a toll on the environment, as returning locals met their homes in shambles.

As residents begin the arduous task of recovery, they must roll up their sleeves to clean, clear, and restore their damaged homes, rebuilding their lives from the ground. For many residents, the painful aftermath lingers. Countless homes, once filled with laughter and memories, now lie in ruins. Belongings, livelihoods, and savings have been swept away, leaving families with little to no means to rebuild.

In the face of adversity, many communities have united to support each other. Volunteers have organised community service initiatives, tackling the daunting task of clearing dunes from flooded homes and streets. With shovels and determination, residents are working tirelessly to restore their neighbourhoods, fostering a sense of unity and solidarity.

HumAngle documents the recovery journey of residents left with no other option but to start their lives again.

Flooded area with submerged houses and fabrics laid out to dry in the foreground under a clear sky. — *Walls of houses and their neighbours are washed away, leaving the building naked.*

Rubble from a collapsed building with blocks strewn across the ground under a sunny sky. — *A house was destroyed, leaving room frames.*

A damaged building with UNICEF sign, partially submerged in water with debris around. — *A destroyed skills acquisition centre managed by the Borno State Agency for Mass Education in collaboration with UNICEF.*

Person in blue garb walking by a flooded area with debris and buildings in the background. — *A man standing before the ruins of a building, recounting loss and bearing disturbing trauma.*

A flooded street with concrete walls under a blue sky, power lines above, and a few people in the distance. — *This is a street in the Simari community. Even though floodwaters have receded in some areas, other roads and streets are not motorable.*

A dilapidated brick wall with a doorway framing a distant pyramid, standing water in the foreground. — *Some homes turned to water logs, turning the premises unfavourable.*

A flooded street with a high water level reaching a barricaded gate, CCTV cameras, and barbed wire on the wall. — *A house filled with flood water despite being protected with sandbags.*

A woman walking through a doorway in a room with a cracked wall and a blue sofa with magazines. — *People risking their lives in cracked buildings. Some families told HumAngle they sleep on the verandas of their houses for fear of the building collapse.*

A house with a gated entrance and scattered construction debris in the foreground. — *The flooding uprooted and destroyed the whole tiling of this mosque in the Muna area. Community members took them out to be repurposed.*

Person riding a bicycle on a damaged road with rugs laid out to dry and trees in the background under a cloudy sky. — *Carpets spread across a typical street of some communities that have already experienced receding floods in their places.*

Woman standing by a doorway near a closed shop with advertisements, laundry drying, and debris on the ground. — *A resident of Shehuri community taking back her cooking pots after she washed them with clean water.*

Clothes spread out on the ground to dry with trees and a wall in the background, person walking beside the wall. — *Drenched clothes spread under the sun.*

People sorting fabrics and items in a sandy outdoor area under a tree. — *A woman in Shehu’s area spraying clothes under the sun.*

Individual standing in a flooded street with scattered clothes, while another person washes utensils nearby. — *Babson is preparing to wash his family’s clothes, including his own, soaked by floodwaters. He said it stinks and smells terribly.*

Two men navigating a flooded street with stepping stones while a third collects water in containers. — *Relief surfaced as clean water source points have been restored after the flood waters receded in Dikwa Low Cost. Potable water scarcity was a major problem when communities were first hit.*

Two men with a loaded cart on a sunny street with puddles, a parked car, and a sandy mound in the foreground. — *Boys transporting their belongings back home.*

People walking with items on their heads near waterlogged area with buildings in the background. — *People transport their belongings on foot because they cannot afford transportation fares.*

People washing clothes by hand on fabric spread outside under a bright sky, with a concrete wall and barbed wire in the background. — *Boys washing carpets and their family’s clothes.*

People and goats on a dusty roadside with a rundown building in the background. — *Together with their animals, families rest after a tedious job of clearing waterlogs and cleaning their houses.*

A child working in a sandy area by a wall, with the arm of an adult in the foreground. — *A boy scoops wet sand from a ditch.*

Man shoveling sand into a wheelbarrow at a construction site on a sunny day. — *Ajit clears their house, which is filled with sand dunes.*

Two boys near a mound of dirt on a sunny day, one standing with a shovel, another sitting with buildings in the background. — *Friends working together, helping people to clear the sands packed before their shops and business places.*

Photographs by Usman Abba Zanna.

The recent flooding in Maiduguri, North East Nigeria, has left thousands of locals facing a long and painful journey towards recovery. Entire homes have been reduced to ruins, and families have lost their belongings, livelihoods, and savings. Despite the dire situation, communities are uniting, with volunteers organizing initiatives to clear and restore flooded homes and streets, fostering a sense of solidarity.

Documenting this recovery, residents are seen cleaning and drying their possessions, recounting their losses, and grappling with the trauma. The images capture the extensive damage, from destroyed homes and community centers to waterlogged streets and households. Efforts are underway to restore essential services like clean water, and the community's resilience shines as they support each other through the arduous rebuilding process.

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Usman Abba Zanna September 21, 2024