-The Ghana Red Cross Society has donated empty gallons, mosquito nets, blankets, aquatabs, among others to 400 flood victims at Mepe and its environs to impact positively on their health, wellbeing, dignity, convenience, livelihoods, and restoration.
The gesture by the NGO forms part its Corporate Social Responsibility
The Akosombo Dam water spillage in September 2023 resulted in high levels of water flooding towns such as Mepe, Battor, Sogakope, Mafi, Adidome, Ada, among other areas.
Leading the delegation, Mr Solomon Gayoni Gbolo, the Secretary-General of the Ghana Red Cross Society emphasised the importance of rapid response in such situations.
He said the organization was working tirelessly alongside local authorities and other humanitarian partners to ensure that those impacted by the floods received the support to begin rebuilding their lives.
According to Mr Gbolo, the spillage had brought about an untold hardship to the affected people “as far as their daily lives, livelihoods, and dignity were concern and as a result “we needed to come as Ghana Red Cross Society through the federation to be able to at least bring them relief items to be able to relieve the suffering and pains that they have gone through.”
He said the organisation would also give a cash transfer and the reason was that “a lot of the people have lost their trade, they have lost their livelihoods and they will believe that this money can be used to begin a livelihood.”
Mr Gbolo said “the world has had so many problems of late and that include climate change, causing numerous disasters and emergencies around the world, all requiring humanitarian interventions. This has led to global donor fatigue, making it difficult to mobilise assistance quickly to respond to the suffering of disaster-stricken populations.”
He therefore urged all beneficiaries to make efficient use of the support they received, especially the cash transfer, “so that they do not fall back into the difficulties caused by the disaster.”
Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the GRCS for their kind gesture.
They said the items would go a long way to better their lives at their various camps.
According to them, access to education for their kids was a matter of concern for them as “the camps they were living in were far from the town and the kids have to trek a long distance daily to go to school.”
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu said there was a need for alternative housing for the flood victims in the Lower Volta Basin.
He said he would make sure the victims were compensated to better and improve their lives as the displaced people had significantly increased at the camps, which was not conducive for human settlement as the rainy season approached.
GNA
GRB
2 Feb. 2024
Caption: Pictures Attached
