IntroductionIn August 2017, a cholera outbreak started in Muna Garage Internally Displaced Persons camp, Borno state, Nigeria and >5000 cases occurred in six local government areas. This qualitative study evaluated perspectives about the emergency response to this outbreak.MethodsWe conducted 39 key informant interviews and focus group discussions, and reviewed 21 documents with participants involved with surveillance, water, sanitation, hygiene, case management, oral cholera vaccine (OCV), communications, logistics and coordination. Qualitative data analysis used thematic techniques comprising key words in context, word repetition and key sector terms.ResultsAuthorities were alerted quickly, but outbreak declaration took 12 days due to a 10-day delay waiting for culture confirmation. Outbreak investigation revealed several potential transmission channels, but a leaking latrine around the index cases’ house was not repaired for more than 7 days. Chlorine was initially not accepted by the community due to rumours that it would sterilise women. Key messages were in Hausa, although Kanuri was the primary local language; later this was corrected. Planning would have benefited using exercise drills to identify weaknesses, and inventory sharing to avoid stock outs. The response by the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency was perceived to be slow and an increased risk from a religious festival was not recognised. Case management was provided at treatment centres, but some partners were concerned that their work was not recognised asking, ‘Who gets the glory and the data?’ Nearly one million people received OCV and its distribution benefited from a robust infrastructure for polio vaccination. There was initial anxiety, rumour and reluctance about OCV, attributed by many to lack of formative research prior to vaccine implementation. Coordination was slow initially, but improved with activation of an emergency operations centre (EOC) that enabled implementation of incident management system to coordinate multisectoral activities and meetings held at 16:00 hours daily. The synergy between partners and government improved when each recognised the government’s leadership role.ConclusionDespite a timely alert of the outbreak, delayed laboratory confirmation slowed initial response. Initial responses to the outbreak were not well coordinated but improved with the EOC. Understanding behaviours and community norms through rapid formative research should improve the effectiveness of the emergency response to a cholera outbreak. OCV distribution was efficient and benefited from the polio vaccine infrastructure.

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Maiduguri metropolis Nigeria, lies on a relatively flat terrain of about 350 meters above sea level and is part of the undulating Borno Plain that slopes towards the Lake Chad. The rapid physical expansion of the metropolis and the annual recurrent flash flooding and inundation problems within the city continues to impact devastating socioeconomic effects on the livelihood of residents sometimes leading to loss of lives and property. It is important therefore to understand the spatial pattern of floods and terrain characteristics in Maiduguri for planning purposes. The paper examined the spatial pattern of urban flash floods and inundations, and the terrain characteristics in Maiduguri metropolis. Digital Terrain Model (DTM) generated from the Shuttle Raddar Topography Mission was used to provide the basis for the terrain analysis to generate hydrological parameters such as elevation, flow accumulation and direction, drainage network and slope angle as well as classified elevation images and terrain wetness index to map out potential flood risk areas. The DTM identified potential areas liable to flash flood and inundation. The 3D Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of the area showed where potential floods or traps were located in the metropolis. The findings further revealed that Maiduguri was generally characterized by low lying locations with slope angles of less than 5 degrees covering an area of 144.4 km 2 out of 148 km 2 making it extremely difficult to drain. The processed flow accumulation of the study area showed a high flow accumulation pixel value of 19,972 that drained into outlet, suggesting that a large proportion of the study area was getting flooded during a rainstorm. Even though the calculated drainage density of 0.73 for the study area indicated a very good drainage system, this was also undermined by the flat terrain and urbanization. The study recommends for improved land use planning; raising awareness of the residents, provision of more drainages and continued vulnerability mapping improved the functionality of bodies responsible for flood management among others for sustainable flood management in the study area.

Contribution/Originality: This study is one of very few studies which have identified the community based adaptation approach as the best adaptation strategy to the impacts of climate emergency in urban Maiduguri. INTRODUCTIONSteady rise in global average temperature, rising sea levels, continuous extension of desert areas and shifting weather patterns are threatening the existence of man and ecosystems on earth. The effects and impacts of climate change are unprecedented in scale and a global threat. If precautions are not taken quite early, adapting to these