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Flood sacks 1,220 communities in Cross River

By Anietie Akpan, Calabar
09 October 2015   |   1:40 am
YET again, flood has a trail of tears and pain in Cross River State as over 1,220 families have been displaced and 4501 farms destroyed in coastline communities in three local councils of the state. About 686 families were displaced in 50 communities in Odukpani Local Council, 503 in 16 communities in Biase and 31…

FloodingYET again, flood has a trail of tears and pain in Cross River State as over 1,220 families have been displaced and 4501 farms destroyed in coastline communities in three local councils of the state.

About 686 families were displaced in 50 communities in Odukpani Local Council, 503 in 16 communities in Biase and 31 in Okpodon Village, Yala Local Council.

The flood, caused by very heavy rainfall, ravaged communities with little or no warning, pulling down buildings and destroying household property.

Distraught farmers were forced to hurriedly harvest their yams, cassava and groundnuts to sell at giveaway prices in order for them not to rot or be completely damaged by water.

A community leader in Obum, Erei North, Biase, Chief Ani Ukam lamented that the agrarian people of the area are likely to face economic difficulties as vast farms of crops such as yams, cassava, rice, pepper, cocoyam, vegetables and garden eggs worth several millions of naira have been destroyed.

The Clan Head of Umon Island, also in Biase, Onun, Sunday Ijo also told The Guardian the flood occurred without any warning which could have alerted and enabled farmer’s carryout more thorough emergency harvest.

He said the high-velocity flood worsened by the overflow of the Cross River swashed away farms and damaged residential and public structures such as school buildings.

He said the disaster was similar to the incident of 2012 except that this time, no life was lost.

Also commenting, the Chairman of Odukpani Council, Elder Bassey Eyo said apart from the harsh economic problems, the people were facing health challenges such as choleras and the invasion of the community by reptiles including snakes and crocodiles.

The Chairman of Biase, Mr. Ana Enebieni described the damage as ‘monumental’ and urged the state and Federal Governments to intervene by way of relief materials.

Assessing the disaster, the Director-General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Vincent Aquah attributed the frequency of the natural disaster in the state and in other parts of the world to climate change.

He said that it was imperative that governments at all levels should be properly repositioned to mitigate such disasters whenever they occurred and promised that efforts would be made to provide succor to the affected persons.

Aquah commended the brotherly spirit displayed by neighbours and relatives of the victims who are graciously harbouring them, warning that the people should desist from venturing into any precarious waters to salvage property to avoid drowning.

He said: “The aftermath of this monumental destruction of property particularly the economic lifestyle of the people portends socio-economic danger. This could aggravate hunger, disease and general economic hardship.

“The magnitude of the disaster is obviously beyond the state government’s capacity to handle it alone. It is therefore pertinent that this appeal be passionately made for intervention through the provision of relief materials to the victims.”

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