NEMA and CR-SEMA Assess Flood Damage in Cross River

On Thursday, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA) conducted a joint damage and needs assessment in flood-affected riverine communities in Etung Local Government Area, Cross River State. The assessment, in collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, aimed to evaluate the impact of recent flooding on cocoa farmlands and the livelihoods of residents.

The team was led by Awoji Austin, Acting Head of Operations of NEMA’s Akwa Ibom and Cross River Operations Office, and Efa Nyong, Director-General of CR-SEMA. They traveled by boat to the affected areas, which are only accessible by water.

Austin emphasized the importance of the assessment for generating credible data for humanitarian response and recovery planning. Nyong noted that the exercise aimed to gather firsthand information on the scale of destruction to guide state government intervention.

Community leaders from Itaka and Mkpot praised the agencies for their efforts in assessing the damage, which has severely impacted cocoa plantations, the primary source of livelihood for many families.