By Akpan Udo-Inyang
CALABAR -Two fire incidents have destroyed a building at 21 Atamunu Street and a popular multimillion shopping mall, the SPAR in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State
In Atamunu, it destroyed household belongings and other personal property while at SPAR, the outbreak continued as of the time of filing this report.
Although no lives were lost in the two fire incidents, the affected families at Atamunu, reportedly suffered significant material losses, leaving them in need of assistance to restore their basic living conditions.
The cause of the two fire outbreaks had yet to be established, but preliminary findings indicate that the fire completely razed the affected buildings in Atamunu while only parts of the shopping mall are affected.
Following the Atamunu incident, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), have conducted a joint Damage and Needs Assessment.
Other stakeholders on the assessment, included the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The team visited the affected area to assess the extent of the damage, document the losses suffered by the affected households and engage residents on the impact of the incident on their homes and personal belongings.
Reacting to the incident, the Director-General of CR-SEMA, Mr. Efa Nyong, sympathised with the affected families, describing the incident as unfortunate and assuring them of the Agency’s concern over their plight.
Nyong said CR-SEMA would continue to work with relevant government institutions and humanitarian partners to identify the immediate and long-term needs of the affected households and provide appropriate support within available resources.
He urged the affected residents to remain calm as the response process continues, assuring them that their situation would not be overlooked.
The director-general also emphasised the importance of collective responsibility in emergency response, noting that fire outbreaks and other disasters can have devastating consequences for families whose homes and belongings are affected.
The joint assessment is part of efforts by CR-SEMA and its partners to coordinate timely responses to emergencies and provide assistance to communities and households affected by disasters across Cross River State.