The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), has carried out a comprehensive damage and needs assessment in flood-affected riverine communities in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State as part of efforts to coordinate humanitarian support for victims.
The assessment exercise, conducted on Thursday alongside officials of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, was aimed at evaluating the extent of destruction caused by recent flooding, particularly its impact on cocoa plantations, farmlands, homes, and the livelihoods of residents whose primary source of income depends on agriculture.
The delegation was led by the Acting Head of Operations of NEMA’s Akwa Ibom and Cross River Operations Office, Awoji Austin, and the Director-General of CR-SEMA, Efa Nyong. Due to the difficult terrain, the team travelled by boat to the affected communities, many of which are accessible only through waterways.
Speaking during the assessment, Austin explained that the exercise formed part of a broader damage and needs assessment designed to gather reliable and credible information that would guide humanitarian response, relief distribution, and long-term recovery planning for communities devastated by the floods.
He stressed that obtaining firsthand information was essential to ensuring that intervention efforts were based on accurate data rather than estimates. According to him, the findings from the assessment would be submitted to the appropriate authorities for prompt consideration and necessary action.
Austin assured affected residents that NEMA, working closely with the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency and other humanitarian partners, would continue to support communities impacted by the disaster through coordinated relief and recovery initiatives.
“We are here to make findings and ensure that the information gathered reaches the appropriate authorities for the necessary intervention. Be assured that NEMA, in collaboration with our sister agencies, will do everything possible to assist the affected communities,” he said.
Also addressing community members, the Director-General of CR-SEMA, Efa Nyong, said the assessment would provide the Cross River State Government with credible field data needed to determine the level of intervention required across the affected communities.
Nyong noted that the state government remained committed to supporting flood victims but emphasized that proper assessment was necessary to accurately determine the extent of destruction before deploying relief materials and other forms of assistance.
He further encouraged residents to promptly report disaster incidents to relevant authorities and actively participate in disaster risk reduction programmes, stressing that early reporting and community cooperation would improve emergency response and help reduce future losses.
As part of the exercise, Disaster Management Officer of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Agbor Okim, sensitised residents on disaster preparedness, emergency reporting mechanisms, and the importance of community participation in mitigating the effects of natural disasters.
The assessment team first visited Itaka Community, where the Clan Head, Ntufam Patrick Eteta, expressed appreciation to the agencies for reaching the remote settlement despite the challenging terrain. He described the visit as a demonstration of government concern for the welfare of affected residents.
Eteta lamented that the flood had devastated extensive cocoa plantations, which serve as the economic backbone of the community. He explained that many farming families had lost their major source of livelihood, leaving households struggling with severe financial hardship.
The delegation also visited Mkpot Community, where the Clan Head, Ntufam Innocent Akim, commended the agencies for undertaking the difficult journey to inspect the affected areas. He appealed for swift government intervention to cushion the impact of the disaster on residents.
During the visit, officials inspected flood-ravaged cocoa farms, interacted with affected farmers, and documented the scale of destruction to support future humanitarian assistance and recovery planning.
Flooding has become a recurring challenge in several parts of Cross River State, especially during the rainy season, with riverine communities in Etung Local Government Area among the worst affected each year. The persistent floods have repeatedly destroyed cocoa plantations, farmlands, homes, and public infrastructure, threatening food production and worsening the economic conditions of farming communities.
Authorities say continued assessments, coordinated emergency response, and increased investment in disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and community resilience remain critical to reducing the impact of future flooding and safeguarding the livelihoods of vulnerable residents across the state.
