Red Cross Staff Resume Work At Refugee Camp But ....

Accra, (Greater Accra) 23 Oct., The Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) has resumed work at the Sanzule refugee camp in the Western Region but their officials say they are concerned about security arrangements for staff. In an interview with the GNA in Accra today, Mr. Sulley Sumani, Coordinator for disaster, said although the camp is calm at the moment, their presence there is temporary. He added that they are studying the security situation in the camp after their workers were allegedly attacked by some refugees last September over the distribution of relief items. Mr. Sulley said although the refugee board assured the Red Cross that disturbances of such nature will not recur the refugees on October 14 again disrupted distribution of food. This happened immediately after a meeting with Liberia and Sierra Leone refugee councils, UNHCR, National Mobilization Programme, Police, BNI and the Refugee Board to discuss the welfare of refugees and Red Cross relief workers. Mr. Sulley said the demand of the refugees to be allowed to take food items in bulk and distribute them themselves is unacceptable because it is against the regulations of the Red Cross and the World Food Programme. "The Red Cross deals directly with the consumer and not third parties, so in this case to take food from a donor and give it out for distribution by a third party is not an ideal policy for the Red Cross to operate". Mr. Sumani said the Red Cross is now concerned about their stolen radio equipment which is their source of communication in times of emergency.