UN staff assess flood-affected areas

Staff of the United Nations agencies in Ghana's capital, Accra, last Thursday visited areas which were affected by floods after a heavy downpour on 9-10 June, a situation report from the UN Resident Coordinator's office in Accra said. OCHA said that about 2,500 persons mostly women and children, had been displaced. Severe damage in most locations brought about erosion of previously dry soil and affected the foundations of homes and bridges, OCHA said adding that buildings were washed away by the floods which rose above window level in most cases. The current humanitarian situation was however well within the capacity of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the report added. Most of the homes visited were located on the course of rivers and beside waterways, which had not flooded for the past 14 years, OCHA quoted residents as saying. Some houses were built on wetlands next to a dam while the bridges and culverts were rather too small to contain the volumes of water. The report said that continuous rains on 13-14 June caused further flooding including new areas. However, no information was available regarding the extent of damage. "The UN agencies continue to monitor the situation for the appropriate response," the report added. The French government last week donated US $5 million to help the Ghanaian government desilt, construct and restructure primary drains to solve the perennial problem of flooding in the Accra and pledged a further $11 million. The World Bank also presented US $3.2 million for the construction and restructuring of some primary drains in the city. The local NADMO provided 20 tents and a quantity of blankets to the victims. The meteorological department however warned that more heavy rains should be expected during the months of June and July.