Monday, July 12, 2010

RAINSTORM CAUSES HAVOC IN NORTHERN REGION (PAGE 51, JULY 12, 2010)

MORE than 900 houses, 11 school buildings and 832 acres of farmland have been destroyed by rainstorm in parts of the Northern Region.
Some public and private properties were also destroyed by the rainstorm, which has been described as one of the worst to hit the region.
The worst affected districts are Chereponi, Gusheigu, West and East Mamprusi and West and East Gonja.
The Tamale metropolis is the latest to experience extensive destruction following a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the disaster, the Northern Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Alhaji Abdulai Mahama Silimboma, said NADMO needed more logistics to support the victims.
“For immediate relief, we need foodstuffs, but later building materials and other items will also be needed,” he said, adding that his office was linking up with the national office for support.
He said some of the displaced people were currently perching with their relations until they were able to rebuild their homes.
Meanwhile, there is still uncertainty over the rainfall pattern and, according to the NADMO co-ordinator, the rains would peak between August and October this year, thereby raising concerns over the possibility of floods.
“The fear we have is that excessive rains in neighbouring Burkina Faso could equally have dire consequences for communities in the north due to the possible outflow of major dams in that country,” Alhaji Silimboma said.
The flood disaster of 2007 is still fresh in the minds of many residents of the region because of the level of devastation it caused.
Figures collated by NADMO indicated that 20 people died in the floods, while 9,707 houses, 22 health facilities, 18 school structures and 1,499.1 kilometres of roads were destroyed. Also, over 220,000 people were displaced.

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