OCHA / NIGERIA FLOODS

STORY: OCHA / NIGERIA FLOODS
TRT: 2:54
SOURCE: OCHA
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: NATS

DATELINE: 4 – 5, NOVEMBER 2022, EKOWE, OPUAMA, AZIKORO BAYELSA / RIVERS STATE BORDER IN SOUTH, NIGERIA

SHOTLIST:

1. Close up, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale watching the impact of flooding
2. Aerial shot, flooding and rising water levels.
3. Wide shot, resident paddles a canoe along Bayelsa River
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthias Schmale, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, United Nations:
“Floods happen annually because of climate change; they are bound to get worse. So, there is serious investment needed into adaptation and mitigation measures.”
5. Tracking shot, houses in Ekowe and Opuama communities along the riverbanks in Bayelsa State capital submerged by floods
6. Pan right, people affected by flooding in Opuama communities along riverbanks in the Bayelsa State capital of Yenogoa, submerged by floods
7. Wide shot, Schmale walking along Azikoro village near the state capital where flooding hinders vehicular movement
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthias Schmale, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, United Nations:
“We are here in the middle of Yenogoa town, the capital city of Bayelsa State. And as you can hopefully see, there is water on the road. We've just talked to a lady who 2 to 3 times a week has to get the water to wash, to clean, to cope for her family. And that alone cost her 1,500 Naira just to do that. So, she has told me she is in this situation for a month.”
9. Wide shot, Schmale and residents on a flooded street
10. Various shots, destroyed roads and overturned vehicles
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthias Schmale, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, United Nations:
“As you can see behind me, the road is destroyed and there's long lines of trucks waiting to get across from both sides. So, this is the reason essential supplies in the capital city, in Bayelsa State, are still very short - essential supplies like fuel, like food and other materials that one needs in day-to-day life.”
12. Tracking shot, houses submerged by floods

STORYLINE:
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale visited the riverine Bayelsa State in Nigeria to assess the impact of flooding and rising water levels that have cut off the State from the rest of the country.

Nigeria is facing the worst flooding the country has seen in a decade, affecting more than 3 million people. Over 600 people have lost their lives and another 1.4 million people have been forced to flee their homes.

SOUNDBITE (English) Matthias Schmale, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, United Nations:
“Floods happen annually because of climate change; they are bound to get worse. So, there is serious investment needed into adaptation and mitigation measures.”
The floods have extensively damaged houses, farms, basic infrastructure and means of livelihood. Some 34 of the country’s 36 states are affected. The most affected states include Anambra, Kogi, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Katsina, Cross River, Taraba, and Rivers.

SOUNDBITE (English) Matthias Schmale, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, United Nations:
“We are here in the middle of Yenogoa town, the capital city of Bayelsa State. And as you can hopefully see, there is water on the road. We've just talked to a lady who 2 to 3 times a week has to get the water to wash, to clean, to cope for her family. And that alone cost her 1,500 Naira just to do that. So, she has told me she is in this situation for a month.”

Schmale visited oil rich Bayelsa State from 4 to 5 November 2022 to see the situation of affected people first-hand and to shine a spotlight on their immediate and long-term term needs.

SOUNDBITE (English) Matthias Schmale, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, United Nations:
“As you can see behind me, the road is destroyed and there's long lines of trucks waiting to get across from both sides. So, this is the reason essential supplies in the capital city, in Bayelsa State, are still very short - essential supplies like fuel, like food and other materials that one needs in day-to-day life.”

With a dozen communities along its banks, the river levels rose and continue to break the riverbanks, leading to widespread flooding and submerged houses along Ekowe and Opuama communities.

Major roads from Bayelsa to the River State capital, Port Harcourt, are destroyed by flooding and movement of essential supplies has become difficult.