Water-Borne Diseases Major Threat of Floods

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said this week that the most urgent threat from floods in Ghanaian coastal towns including Accra came from water-borne diseases, such as cholera, diarrhoea and typhoid, which could be brought on by a lack of clean water. The floods, which followed heavy rains on 26 June, killed at least five people and affected some 139,000 others, OCHA reported on Monday.

It said Ghana's National Disaster Management Office (NADMO) had distributed relief items such as tents, blankets, and kitchen tools but more supplies were needed, including food, clothing, medical supplies, and water tankers.

Nine interagency teams, including WHO, UNICEF, other UN agencies, NGOs and NADMO have been formed to evaluate the damage and assess the needs of affected people, OCHA reported. WHO and UNICEF have provided US $20,000 for the water, drugs, health education and shelter. The United States has given US $25,000, and UNDP has also made a contribution.