June 3 disaster: Relief items go to wrong hands

Some unscrupulous people, not affected by the June 3 flood and fire disaster in Accra, are cunningly taking advantage of the unfortunate situation to collect relief items meant for victims.

These people, who have up-to-date information on locations of where items are distributed, spend hours in long queues and wait for stud comprising mainly of food and clothing.

A victim, Madam Doris Aryee, who lives in Adabraka, one of the areas worst affected by the flood, told The Mirror that though some people living in the area were not affected by the floods, they had submitted their names as victims and continually struggle head to head with victims over relief items.

She said in some instances, the items were also distributed based on political affiliations.

“A few days after the flood, we were called to come for some items, but it appeared some people belonging to certain political parties were given more of the items which were intended for everyone affected.”

Though she hesitated to mention any political party, she stated that the criteria for sharing of relief items, especially those that came from the government sources, were shared with political biases.

“Everyone in the community knows this; we live here so we know those who associate with party A or B and it is obvious there is selectivity in giving out items,” she added.

Inaccurate database

Confirming this to The Mirror, a clinical psychologist at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Ghana, Mr Alfred Nii Nortey Dua, who has been very active in the distribution of items to victims, said there had been some instances where some people not affected had turned up at the centres for some of the items.

He said until a proper system with accurate information on the real victims was put in place, ‘fake’ victims would continue to collect items meant for others.

According to him, the process was not being properly coordinated and if suitable measures were not taken, those who really needed the items would not be attended to.

Psychological help

He said though the items were necessary, it was also important to check the mental health of survivors of the fire and flood as cases left unattended to could result in serious mental disorders.

“There are people who keep seeing gory images and are yet to recover from the events. A lot of these people are resorting to alcohol and other drugs to relieve them of the pain and trauma and these substances have varied negative long-term effects on users,” he explained.

Mr Dua said already, the Mental Health Authority with support from some psychiatrists, had interacted with over 500 of the victims but that alone could not solve the problem.

To him, the victims would need regular follow-ups to check their mental and general health.

“So far, we have collected over 400 names and other vital information from some of the victims, apart from giving them relief items. We are looking forward to organising workshops and vocational training sessions as most of them had lost their working capital,”

He said based on their backgrounds, they would be divided into groups and supported to get back into business.

The clinical psychologist expressed gratitude to the Legon Inter-denominational Church (LIC) for supporting the victims and their families with food items last Wednesday.



BY AFIA AKESE, GRAPHICONLINE

This is just another clear example of how broken our systems as a country are.Nothing seems to be working as they should. Some people would just take advantage of the chaos to reap unduly. The authorities must sit up.

Seriously, to some people situations like this always creates a platform for them take what is unduly not theirs and do what their not supposed to do...How can some people be that wicked??. Instead of lending a helping hand to these poor victims, they are rather making them go through more miseries....

Anyway i blame the Authorities in charge... If they had put proper measures/systems in place before conducting the sharing exercise, these 'ruthless' parasites wouldn't have taken the advantage to take what they don't deserve.... They surely and really need to sit up... Once this has already started, i wonder what will happen next.... hmmm

All disaster relief measures notwithstanding, the authorities should make sure the systems that have been put in place are actually working. Very often they only work when the issue of concern is in their favour. They hardly think of the greater good. That has to change if we are to make any meaningful progress as a people.

I guess that's the problem with those in Authority.. Unless something goes wrong, they will simply do nothing to make sure things are in order and going the right direction because no matter how things turn up in the end, they still get their share..

This case needs serious attention immediately because this victims have gone through a lot and shouldn't be made to go through additional stress.. Most of them have been left stranded after the disaster and it pains me so much to see this kind of inhuman behavior been exhibited by those who weren't affected...

Like said earlier the Authorities need to seriously sit up and make sure the measures/systems put in place are effective as soon as possible otherwise this will only encourage more unaffected people go for all those relief items to their advantage.... I hope they act ASAP...