A massive relief effort being spearheaded by Joy FM has brought succour to victims and survivors of the twin disaster of floods and fire in Accra.

Bales of used and new clothing, bags of water and rice, oil, bread rolls, bars of soap, detergents, and food mobilized by the station and its generous listeners and partners have been distributed to the victims.

The mobilization is part of a Joy FM’s emergency aid initiative that led to the distribution of 2000 bags of water to victims on Saturday.

On Sunday, key staff of the station - Kofi Ansah, Elvis Kwashie, Dzifa Bampoh, Evans Mensah, George Wiafe, Israel Laryea, Ato Kwamena Dadzie, and droves of volunteers distributed cooked food, raw rice, soaps, detergents, toiletries, clothes, bags of water, bread, beverages, etc to residents of the immediate community around the Goil filling station that exploded last Wednesday during the floods killing over a 100 people.

The entire area was devastated by the floods and many are in need.

A heavy downpour Wednesday night submerged several parts of the capital with the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Avenor, Kaneshie, Adabraka, Mallam Junction being the worst hit.

There was also an explosion at the Goil filling station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle leading to the death of more than a 100 people.

Workers of Joy FM assisted by several volunteers teamed up Sunday afternoon to distribute all the items.

Some of the volunteers and donors, who spoke to Joy News, said they had been touched by plight of the victims of the floods and fire and felt it was their duty as citizens to support any initiative aimed at alleviating the suffering of the affected.

Joy News’ Anny Osabutey reporting from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle said long queues of people scrambling for water showed the desperation of the victims whom he said had carried themselves with dignity even in the most difficult times.

He added that, some of the affected persons had managed to salvage some clothes from the floods and have dried them in the sun with the hope of using them.

Earlier, Joy News’ Seth Kwame Boateng, who was with some of the volunteers busily sorting out the items donated so far, said a lot more consumables, especially food, toiletries, and medical supplies were needed.

News Editor Ato-Kwamena Dadzie, who was at the affected community at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, also reported that the affected persons were busily cleaning up their houses and the environment.

“For most of them it’s just food and medicine that they need. A lot of them spoke about being hungry and needing food to eat immediately then after that they can look into the future as to how to bring back their business and get their lives back together,” he said and added that the mood at the scene is one of expectancy. 

There was therefore relief on the faces of many when the relief items were sent to homes of victims still scraping the mud and dirt and sludge deposited in their rooms and compounds by the floods. Young men with push-trucks struggled with debris on the dirty roads.

Officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation were also present with a truckload of relief items for the victims. 

Medical support is seriously needed and donations are welcome.

Donors should call the front desk of Joy FM on 0302216540 for donation of medical supplies, food and cash for the victims.

Those who suffered burns particularly need financial support for their treatment.

Follow link for more photographs of the distribution exercise. (link here)