Calabar mudslide leaves 167 people homeless, while heavy rainfall displaces 180 others in the Central Senatorial District.
No fewer than 347 persons have been displaced following mudslides and flooding in parts of Cross River State.
The Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Efa Nyong, disclosed this in Calabar, the state capital.
According to Nyong, a mudslide in Calabar rendered 167 people homeless, while heavy rainfall displaced another 180 residents across communities in the Central Senatorial District.
He said the affected persons were currently receiving shelter at different locations in Calabar and parts of the Central Senatorial District.
“About 347 persons have been displaced after mudslides and floods ravaged various communities in the state,” Nyong said.
“From our assessment, 167 persons were rendered homeless by a mudslide in Calabar, while 180 others were displaced in the Central Senatorial District.”
SEMA Identifies Human Activities as Contributing Factors
Nyong, who assumed office on July 14, attributed the disasters to both natural occurrences and human activities.
He identified indiscriminate waste disposal as a major contributor to flooding, warning that refuse dumped in one location could cause problems several kilometres away.
The SEMA director-general said he had visited communities in the Southern and Central Senatorial Districts to sensitise residents on disaster prevention.
He added that the agency would extend the campaign to the Northern Senatorial District before launching a state-wide advocacy programme involving billboards, radio jingles and town criers.
Agency Outlines Emergency Response
Nyong explained that Local Emergency Management Committees, coordinated by the vice-chairmen of local governments, serve as first responders during emergencies.
He said cases beyond their capacity would be escalated to the state emergency agency, the National Emergency Management Agency and, where necessary, international partners.
He identified the Nigerian Red Cross Society as a key partner in providing shelter for displaced residents.
The SEMA boss also disclosed that government and private donors had provided relief materials and financial assistance to support the stabilisation and resettlement of victims.
He urged residents to prevent fire outbreaks by switching off unused electrical appliances, replacing faulty cables and bulbs, and upgrading electrical wiring when necessary.
