More than 30 houses have collapsed after severe flooding swept through several island communities in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region, leaving scores of residents homeless and forcing many families to seek shelter elsewhere.
The floods have affected communities including Laworshime, Hagodzi, Mamime, Songbe and Agorbledokui, where rising waters have submerged homes, destroyed farmlands and washed away crops and other valuable property.
Assembly Member for the Laworshime Electoral Area, Israel Mensah, described the situation as devastating and appealed to the government and humanitarian organisations to urgently provide relief to affected residents.
According to him, many displaced families are sleeping in the open, while others have sought refuge with relatives in neighbouring communities.
“The collapse of more than 30 houses has left many families with nowhere to turn. Some residents are sleeping in the open or seeking refuge with relatives in less-affected communities. Others remain stranded in the island communities with limited access to food, clean water, and healthcare,” he said.
The flooding has also cut off road access to the affected communities, leaving canoes as the only means of transportation between the islands and the mainland.
Mr. Mensah expressed concern over the dangers residents face as they cross deep and fast-flowing waters without life jackets, increasing the risk of drowning.
He added that the disaster has dealt a major blow to livelihoods, with farmlands submerged and crops destroyed, affecting communities that rely heavily on farming and fishing.
Residents have also raised concerns about the growing risk of cholera, typhoid and other water-borne diseases as stagnant floodwaters continue to accumulate across the affected communities.
The Assembly Member has therefore called for immediate intervention to provide relief supplies and prevent a humanitarian and public health crisis.
SOURCE: GNA
