NEMA seeks evacuation as disasters sack 40 communities in C’River

THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has stressed the need for immediate evacuation of some citizens of Cross River State from disaster zones to safer areas in the event of threat to lives.

The agency gave this caution as it was disclosed that following recent natural disasters, over 40 communities in 12 local council areas of Cross River State have been sacked by either storm or flooding.

Some of the communities affected by flood and landslide include Ayimor, Ugbem, Agwagune and Umon communities in Biase Local Council Area. Landslide and flood also affected residential houses, bridges and farmlands in Enyi-Boje, Kachie Boje, Asu Ben Boje, Katabang, Orimekpang-Ayimekang, Buanchor, among others, in Boje and Abo wards of Boki Local Council Area, Calabar South-Calabar Municipal, Abi, Yala, Ogoja, Obudu, Odukpani, among other councils.

The Zonal Coordinator, South-South, NEMA, Mr. Umesi Emenike, who gave the advice while assessing flood disaster in Biase Local Council Area of Cross River State, stated that the over-flow of river banks was a phenomenon that could hardly be checked and that residents of flooded areas occasioned by overflows should not expect immediate recession of the water and should, therefore, move to safe areas.

Besides, Chairman of the House Committee on Security, Conflict and Disaster Management, Mr. Eteng Jonah Williams, presented part of a nine-point resolution of the Assembly when the report of the Joint Committee on Security, Conflict and Disaster Management, Environment and Agriculture on the windstorm and wanton destruction of property experienced in some parts of the state, was given to the House on Wednesday.

He observed that people, particularly rural dwellers, have not been sufficiently educated on environmental best practices, hence the Cross River State House of Assembly had resolved that the state government grant approval promptly for the release of relief materials for distribution to victims of disasters.

The House resolved that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) be made relevant and its operational capability be strengthened by enacting a workable legislation that would make it more responsive in mitigating disaster challenges in the state as “over 40 communities across 12 councils have been displaced in the state”.

In addition, the House resolved that meteorological service stations be established in local council areas to provide farmers and the public with weather information to guard against disaster.

It stressed the need for government to carry out sensitisation through media in English and local languages on the importance and procedure for sustainable management of the environment.

The resolution also stressed the need for the engagement of agricultural extension officers to educate on the importance of tree-planting to check windstorm while also condemning the evacuation of sand and dumping of refuse along waterways.

Other resolutions include a call on the Ministry of Environment to recruit and re-enforce the Emergency Volunteer Corps through training and a directive on the Ministry of Works, in collaboration with the Lands and Housing Ministry, to reappraise the depth and sizes of bridges, culverts and gutters to guard against flooding.

Similarly, Cross River State government has sent a strong appeal to NEMA, to as a matter of urgency, dispatch its officials to assess the level of flood and landslide disasters in some communities in Boki Local Council Area of the state with a view to assisting those affected.

The Special Adviser, Special Duties in the state, Mr. Fabian Okpa, who made the appeal while speaking with reporters on the disaster level, which has rendered thousands homeless in the area, noted: “A situation where flood swept bridges that link the headquarters from Okundi and other communities was unhealthy as socio-economic activities between the headquarters and the rest of the people have been brought to a standstill.”

He emphasised that the disaster was traumatic as it had disorganised the people and brought untold hardship on them, adding that in a disaster of this magnitude, women and children were worst hit and called for assistance from NEMA and other organisations and associations.

Okpa also expressed concern over the fate of visitors and commuters who have been affected by the bridges, which have disrupted the free-flow of traffic into the area.

The Special Adviser stressed that the Save Our Soul (SOS) message sent to the NEMA was born out of the level of disaster, which aside from property being lost, posed a threat to the lives of the people who were receiving shelter from friends and relatives.