Flood victims in the East Gonja municipality of the Savannah Region are accusing government and other stakeholders of neglecting them to their fate during their difficult moments.
According to them, there hasn’t been any support in any form since the flood took over their homes and properties.
Ceyram Agbodu, one of the victims who lost his house and properties in the Makango enclave to the flood, noted that even though the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) came to survey the area, it has since not returned with any support.
“They only came to asses the situation here and never returned.
“The Assembly doesn’t also care about us and everyone has left us to our fate.”
He expressed concerns of a possible outbreak of disease especially among affected children.
“Our children are vulnerable to waterborne diseases as they drink from the same water that is contaminated.”
World Vision Ghana, in a prompt response, has organized some relief items to the over 3,000 victims.
Speaking to the media after a tour of the affected areas in the East Gonja Municipality, Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Manager at World Vision Ghana Samuel Gmalu noted that as a child focused organization, his outfit declared a Category 1 emergency response to enable the organization mobilize funds to support the affected children, their families and their communities.
He said response plans have been developed and over $2 million is needed to implement interventions such as providing safe water, household latrines, fumigation, disinfection of water points in affected areas as well as provide teaching and learning materials to affected children and schools.
“The response is for 12 months to ensure full recovery of victims and to build resilience in communities where the interventions will be carried out,” he stressed.
He urged various individuals and organizations not to see donation of relief interventions as a competition on who is the highest donor but rather collaborate to build synergies for an effective response.
“I wish to use this opportunity to appeal to Government through the National Disaster Management Organization to ensure effective Coordination of the response.
“There is the need for balance distribution of support to affected people and communities to ensure that all the areas that are affected are given the needed assistance.
“This should be guided by core humanitarian principles in responding to emergencies of this nature,” he added
WASH facilities made up of 50 water storage containers, 50 pieces of 20 litres buckets for water purification, sieving net, pieces of laundry and bathing cake soaps and about 100 pieces of water purifiers were donated by World Vision Ghana to the people of Enuvasu Obiarabanye in East Gonja.
Over 3,300 people are estimated to have been affected by the disaster, with children being the most vulnerable.
Some of the displaced are currently staying in classrooms with challenges of clean water, sanitation, food, and hygiene.