Accra, Jan. 31, GNA-The Ghana Red Cross Society says it has distribute= d food items to flood victims in some parts of the Northern Region. A statement issued and copied to Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday said the items distributed this month included rice, maize and cooking oil, valued at $50,000.

"This has been made possible by a donation from the Chinese Governme= nt to the Ghana Red Cross through the Office of Vice President John Dramani Mahama", it said.

It will be recalled that in November 2010, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Gong Jianzhong, handed over the donation to Vice President Mahama an= d disclosed that the Chinese Government was poised to assist Ghana at all times. The statement said to achieve maximum impact, the distribution exercis= e focused on a carefully selected area at Buipe, where 1,000 families benefited. "Although the number of affected victims greatly exceed this number, due to limited funds and resources, it was imperative to identify and selec= t the most vulnerable communities for the distribution", it added. The statement said in the aftermath of any major disaster or upheaval, the Red Cross responded by going through a number of phases to assist the victims. The first phase being the search and rescue phase, however, is the mos= t critical since many lives may be lost if response is not swift. With the help of its corps of dedicated volunteers, the Red Cross is renowned for it= s prompt response in rescue and evacuation of disaster victims.

The next phase is the relief phase where assessment and registration o= f victims is carried out, as well as distribution if it is deemed necessary. The third phase is the recovery phase, where the immediate danger is presumed to have passed, but conditions still remain dire. "In line with its commitment to alleviating human suffering, Ghana R= ed Cross undertook the distribution exercise in the hope that other public spirited individuals and organisations will follow suit and contribute in cash or in kind either directly to the stricken victims or to the Red Cross for onward distribution", the statement added.