General News of Wednesday, 27 July 2011

Source: GNA

Victims of floods fear prolonged hunger

Adaklu-Waya (V/R), July 27, GNA - The destruction of several hectares of farms by floods in five districts of the Volta Region has sparked fears of hunger in those districts.

The districts are Adaklu-Anyigbe, South-Tongu, North-Tongu and Akatsi Districts and Keta Municipal area most of which have become flood plains following recent heavy rains.

The flood waters have also washed away bridges, roads and inundated markets and houses bringing farming and commercial activities to a halt.

Togbe Lablulu Tegbeza V, Dufia of Adaklu-Waya, told the GNA that the community was surviving on food stored in the houses before the flood and that some people who had finished their stock were going hungry.

“Some adults have to reduce the number of times they eat in a day to save enough for our children for the period,” he said.

Togbe Lablulu said food crops ready for harvesting were left in the flood waters and that the community had also been cut off from its neighbours, especially Ho.

When the GNA went round the town it noticed that some popular chop bars and small stalls were closed.

At Kpoviadzi in the North Tongu District some women and children were found at the bank of a river waiting for the water to recede so they could cross over to the other side.

A middle-aged woman told government officials touring the flooded areas that some of them had been there for days and were hungry.

Mr Joe Gidisu, the Minister of Road and Transport who led the team including Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister and Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, noted that the flood affected roads and farms mostly.