It is now known that about 260,000 people have been affected by the floods in the three northern regions. The discloser was made at the inauguration of a Reconstruction Committee. 18 people are officially known to have lost their lives in the floods. Displaced people are being housed in temporary shelters, while some are reported to be putting up with families and friends. The Committee also revealed that 500 communities in the three northern regions have been affected. Inaugurating the Committee on Friday at the Castle, Osu, President J. A. Kufuor said the donations that government has made so far to the victims of the floods have brought some relief to them. He called on development partners to assist the government to bring life to normalcy in the affected communities. The President tasked the Committee to work with all stakeholders so they can do effective and efficient work, especially, so that items meant for the people are not diverted. Speaking to Joy News, Nana Obiri Boahen, Minister of State at the Ministry of Interior said the Committee will assist the people to rebuild their homes, but reiterated that, these houses would not be mud houses, but durable ones. He also said more than 50 million Ghana cedis is needed to execute the reconstruction.