Cross River gov’t seeks $25m international support for landslide, flood recovery at COP17

The Cross River State Government has taken its July–August 2026 landslide and flood disasters to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, seeking $25 million in international support for emergency response, ecological restoration and long-term resilience.

The state government made the call in its proposed Cross River Restore Hope Initiative report currently being pitched to potential investors and partners at the COP17 in Mongolia by two members of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Martins Achadu, Chairman House Committee on Education and Vice Chairman Committee on Environmental Matters and Catherine Ubi, Clerk of the Cross River State House of Assembly.

In the document reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES, the government said its proposal would address the immediate humanitarian needs arising from the disasters while tackling underlying environmental and infrastructure vulnerabilities that have worsened flooding, erosion and landslide risks.

The appeal was presented as the Cross River delegation joins governments, development partners, financial institutions and environmental organisations at COP17 to discuss land restoration, climate resilience and financing.

According to the state’s evidence note prepared for the conference, prolonged heavy rainfall triggered a series of landslides and floods across Calabar and surrounding communities between July and August.

At Ikot Anwatim in Calabar Municipality, the government said a landslide reportedly killed five people, including four children from the same family, while destroying two houses and injuring other residents.

Days later, it said another landslide at Boro Pit/Satellite Town killed a child and destroyed residential property.