Too Little, Too Late

Listen to Today's Edition:

The worst flooding in Nigeria in a decade has killed more than 600 people and impacted millions even as authorities struggle to provide aid to those hit by the disaster, CNN reported Monday.

Officials said Sunday that more than 200,000 homes have been completely or partially damaged and more than two million people have been affected by the flooding.

Although flooding occurs frequently throughout Nigeria, in some areas it has been worse than the last major floods that hit in 2012. Still, earlier this month, the nation’s National Emergency Management Agency warned of devastating floods for southern states located along courses of the Niger and Benue rivers.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Sadiya Umar Farouq cautioned that more flooding was likely and urged regional governments to be prepared.

She noted that a number of states did not properly prepare for the floods, despite being forecast. Farouq added that local communities must take climate predictions seriously, NPR wrote.

The country will soon implement its National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, which will improve flood response coordination.