NR HIT BY FLOODS

Story: Nurudeen Salifu, Tamale.



PARTS of the Northern Region have been hit by severe rainstorms that have caused damage to some properties and led to the displacement of some families.
The worst hit districts have been the West and East Mamprusi, West and East Gonja, Gusheigu and Bole. The Tamale metropolis was the latest to have been affected.
The Northern Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Alhaji Abdulai Mahama Silimboma told the Daily Graphic in an interview, that so far the storms have caused havoc to some public and private properties.
He mentioned schools and residential facilities as some of the worst affected.
“Some of them have had their walls collapsed, whiles the roofs have been ripped off,” he narrated.
Alhaji Silimboma said NADMO needed some more logistics to support the victims of the disaster since the one in store was currently inadequate.
“For the immediate relief, we would need foodstuffs, but later building materials and other items would also be needed,” he explained.
The co-ordinator said some of those displaced by the destruction were perching with family relations, until they are able to rebuild their homes and move back.
Meanwhile, there is still uncertainty over whether the rains that have flowed incessantly in the southern sector could replicate itself in the north.
According to the NADMO co-ordinator, the rains would peak between August and October this year, which raises the possibilities of excessive rains that could lead to floods.
He said the meteorological department had not been very forthcoming about forecasts regarding the rainfall pattern and noted that the signs in south could be the danger signs of things to come.
“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,” Alhaji Silimboma stated.
The disaster of 2007 is still fresh in the minds of many residents in the region, following the level of devastation it caused.
Figures collated by the NADMO indicated that 20 people died in the floods whiles 9, 707 houses, 22 health facilities, 18 school structures and 1, 499.1km of roads were destroyed. Also, over 220, 000 people were displaced.