It's heartbreaking scenes in Etung — where entire cocoa plantations, the lifeblood of riverine families, have been swallowed by floodwaters. But help might finally be on the way.

So, officials have finally reached some of the hardest-hit communities in Cross River State.

According to cbinews.tv, a joint team from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), alongside the Nigerian Red Cross Society, carried out a damage and needs assessment on Thursday in flood-hit riverine communities in Etung Local Government Area.

And when we say hard-to-reach, we mean it — the team, led by Awoji Austin, Acting Head of Operations at NEMA’s Akwa Ibom and Cross River Office, and CR-SEMA DG Efa Nyong, had to travel by boat to get there. These communities are only accessible by water.

Austin said the visit was crucial for getting reliable data for humanitarian response. In his words: “This visit is very essential. It forms part of our comprehensive damage and needs assessment designed to generate reliable information for humanitarian assistance and recovery planning for all the communities affected by the flood.”

He also assured residents that their findings would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities, adding that NEMA and its sister agencies would do everything to assist the victims.

On his part, Efa Nyong said the exercise was about getting firsthand information on the scale of destruction to guide the state government’s intervention, while urging residents to report disaster incidents early.

There was also a sensitisation session led by Agbor Okim, Disaster Management Officer of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, on disaster preparedness and community participation in reducing risks.

The delegation first stopped at Itaka Community, where Clan Head Ntufam Patrick Eteta thanked them for braving the difficult terrain. He revealed that the flood destroyed huge portions of cocoa farms — the main source of livelihood — leaving many families in serious economic hardship.

They then moved to Mkpot Community, where Clan Head Ntufam Innocent Akim also commended the team for making the tough journey.

Officials inspected the ravaged cocoa farms and spoke directly with affected farmers to determine the extent of the damage.

As reported by cbinews.tv, flooding has become a yearly nightmare in Cross River, especially during the rainy season, with riverine areas in Etung always bearing the brunt. Homes, farmlands, and cocoa plantations are repeatedly destroyed, disrupting lives where farming is everything.

For now, authorities say assessments will continue, and relief will follow, but they’re also calling on communities to take early warning and disaster preparedness more seriously.

Credit: cbinews.tv

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