HEED THIS WARNING

THE warning to communities along the White Volta Basin in the three northern regions to take precautionary measures to stem imminent flooding this year is a very timely and proactive initiative.
Those who will heed the warning and prepare for flooding will avoid the frustrations of the vulture which postpones the building of its nest after the rainy season.
There is very little that farmers in the flood plains can do, but since the warning has come at a time when the farmers are preparing their land for planting, they can do so in areas not prone to the floods.
We recall the devastation caused by the floods last year as a result of the heavy rainfall in the northern regions, which was aggravated by the spillage of excess water from two reservoirs in Burkina Faso.
This year’s food shortage situation in the three regions, considered to be the food basket of the country, is the consequence of the inundation of farms and the collapse of dams in the area last year.
Therefore, if we can do something about the situation to avoid the demeaning effects of famine that threaten the people, the country will be on the right path to achieving one of the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of halving poverty by the year 2015.
Humanitarian and weather forecast organisations were put on the spot last year for failing to alert the people to the imminent danger and when the disaster struck, it was fatal and destructive. No wonder the people are still engaged in reconstruction efforts, as thousands of people were displaced.
The Daily Graphic believes that although it is difficult to undertake long-term weather forecast, the weather alert by the Upper East Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is commendable.
News of the spillage may be causing anxiety in the three northern regions, while down south the people will be excited about it as the water level in the Akosombo Dam will rise and result in increased power supply for domestic and industrial use.
Be that as it may, there is going to be some cost to the planned exercise by the Burkinabe authorities.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, calls on the authorities to stock adequate relief items to deal with the humanitarian crisis that will follow in the wake of the spillage and the subsequent flooding of the communities downstream.
It is regrettable that almost a year into the disaster some communities have not received the requisite support to rebuild their houses.
We are aware of the support the government has extended to the flood victims from our own resources and assistance from the donor community, but there is still more to be done to ensure that the victims lead normal lives.
Residents of the affected areas should take the weather alert seriously and initiate the necessary actions to deal with this year’s floods.
We know the weak nature of dwelling houses in the flood-prone areas and therefore it will be in the people’s own interest to fortify the buildings so that they withstand the vagaries of the weather.
The Daily Graphic is happy that NADMO has alerted the whole nation to an imminent humanitarian challenge this year in order to prepare our minds and help us to draw strategies to avert it or minimise its effects on the people.
We appeal to residents living in the flood-prone areas and disaster and relief organisations, to prepare adequately to stem the effects of the humanitarian challenge on the victims, particularly children, women and the aged.