Catholic Relief Services support flood victims

The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in collaboration with the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference (GCBC) and the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra have provided support for the victims of the June 3 flood disaster.

The CRS presented an amount of GH?240.00 to each of the 667 victims to provide them relief and comfort.

Most Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, at a ceremony to launch the Emergency Response Fund for the June 3 disaster, said the gesture was part of the Catholic Church’s response to victims of natural disaster in the country.

The Metropolitan Archbishop expressed his condolences to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives in the flood disaster.

The 667 were part of the 2,000 flood victims who were registered in Teshie, Ga Central, Okai Kwei and Ablekuma, with the help of Catholic Youth Volunteers.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle said the other payments to the other affected victims would be done at the Martyrs of Uganda Catholic Church, Prince of Peace Catholic Church and the Teshie Community.

He urged the beneficiaries to use the money to replace some of their destroyed properties.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle expressed concern about buildings constructed along water ways, which he said, posed threat to life and property, and urged the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to be proactive and apply to the rules and regulations on building, to the letter.

He appealed to Ghanaians to desist from the indiscriminate dumping of refuse into gutters, adding that the practice disrupted the fee flow of water and caused flooding whenever it rained.

Mrs Lisa Washington-Sow, Country Director, CRS said the gesture was necessitated by the unfortunate disaster that befell the country and also a way to express their care and love for the affected victims.

She said CRS would continue to support interventions to bring relief to disaster victims and called for partnerships in reaching out to disaster victims across the country.

Reverend Father Nicholas Afriyie, Secretary General, GCBC said the Fund was meant to mobilize money in support of any unforeseen disaster in the country.

He appealed to corporate organizations and individuals to donate towards the fund and help in alleviating the sufferings and pains of victims of natural disasters.

Mrs Gertrude Melson, a beneficiary on behalf of the victims, thanked the partnering organizations for the support and pledged to use the money judiciously.