DISASTER VICTIMS RECEIVE RELIEF ITEMS IN BONGO 25th June, 2018

Some 15 rain storm victims from different communities in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region have received assorted relief items from the district directorate of the National Disaster Management Organisation [NADMO].

Bongo District Director of NADMO, Mr. Clement Akongo in his remarks at a brief presentation ceremony disclosed that each victim was to receive a package comprising a packet of roofing sheets, a mattress, a plastic bucket, insecticide treated mosquito net, used clothing and some bags of cement.

He estimated the cost of the items to stand at 7,100.00 Ghana Cedis. He revealed that the victims included both individuals and institutions such as the Soe Senior High School, Sabliga and Apuwongo Primary schools.

Mr. Akongo noted that though the items may not be adequate enough to satisfy the needs of the victims, they were the best efforts NADMO could give them in the interim while additional efforts could be made to solicit more support from government and other willing philanthropists. He said the items were to help mitigate the immediate sufferings of the victims.

Bongo District Chief Executive [DCE] Mr. Peter Ayinbisa Ayamga who did the presentations on behalf of NADMO, noted that the victims were citizens who suffered from a devastating rain storm on 29th May 2017 as well as other victims in this year’s rain storms. He observed that it took that long to make the presentation because several cries of the Assembly to government and other like-minded organisations didn’t get the expected responses. He added that for about six years now, government had not allocated any relief items to the NADMO directorate and that made it impossible for the directorate to respond effectively to victims of disasters.

The DCE warned the victims against sale of the relief items noting that, such an act would amount to a total waste of government’s efforts in supporting them during this critical time in their lives.

Mr. Ayamga noted that the Bongo district laid within a the storm belt and that for the past few years, communities such as Awiisi, Sooboko and Namoo among others often become the hardest hit in the event of any storms. He was however happy that there was no single loss of life recorded in the separate incidents.

The DCE advised people in communities within the storm belt to use re-enforced materials in building their houses. He also urged the people to engage the services of professional masons and carpenters for their housing projects stressing that this will enable the houses to stand the test of time.

On behalf of other recipients of the relief items, Mr. Daniel Awunga thanked the Assembly and NADMO for turning to them such a support package saying, the gesture would go a long way to alleviate their plight. He also pledged they will take precautionary measures to forestall future occurrences.

Mr. Awunga is headmaster of the Soe Senior High School and received packs of roofing sheets for the re-roofing of the school’s two classrooms that got damaged in last year’s storms.

Meanwhile on the sidelines of the event, the DCE formally presented a brand new Nissan pick-up vehicle to the District’s Department of Agriculture to help in the effective implementation of the government’s flagship agric intervention, the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme.