A high-level delegation from the United Nations Inter-Agency Group, led by Charles Abani, the UN Resident Coordinator for Ghana, has undertaken a humanitarian mission to the North Tongu District in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The delegation visited one of the nine districts severely affected by recent flooding to express solidarity and provide essential relief.
In addition to Charles Abani, the delegation included Barbara Clemens, the Representative and Country Director of the World Food Programme (WFP); Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, WFP Chief of Mission for Ghana, Togo, and Benin; Fiachra McAsey, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Ghana; and Sally-Ann Ohene from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Their mission was to assess the situation, understand the needs of flood-affected communities, and provide immediate assistance.
The UN delegation presented vital relief items to the affected communities, including bottled water, dignity kits, water purification tablets, water storage tanks, and tents. These supplies are being delivered in addition to the tents and medical resources that have already been provided to support ongoing relief efforts in the affected districts.
As part of their humanitarian assistance, the UN Inter-Agency Working Group on Emergencies has deployed assessment teams to approximately 60 safe havens, which serve as temporary shelters in the three most affected Tongu districts: North, South, and Central.
The aim of these assessments is to identify the specific needs of the affected populations and ensure the delivery of targeted aid.
Furthermore, the UN delegation is mobilizing to provide psycho-social support to families who have experienced trauma as a result of the recent floods. This comprehensive approach focuses on addressing not only the physical but also the emotional and psychological well-being of those affected.
The World Food Programme (WFP), which chairs the Inter-Agency Working Group on Emergencies, has initiated a registration process to facilitate cash transfers to affected households residing in safe havens. These cash transfers will help families meet their immediate food, nutrition, and other essential needs while they recover from the impact of the floods. This registration process is part of the ongoing efforts to support internally displaced persons (IDPs) in all the affected districts.
In addition to the UN delegation’s visit, Ghana Gas presented a separate delegation offering relief items to victims affected by the floods in Bator, a community in the North Tongu District.
Director-General Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) later visited various safe havens in the Central Tongu and Ada East Districts to assess the situation and understand the needs of the affected communities.
These combined efforts from the UN delegation and local authorities represent a significant response to the devastating floods, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to alleviating the suffering of affected communities and aiding in their recovery.
On September 15, 2023, the Volta River Authority (VRA) initiated controlled spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams in response to the rising water levels upstream, triggered by heavy rainfall.
However, this controlled spillage has intensified in recent days, leading to the displacement of around 26,000 residents in numerous communities.
An Inter-Ministerial Committee has been established to coordinate government effort to manage the disaster.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
