The National Disaster Management Organisation has given the assurance that no lives will be lost this year in the event of flooding in the northern part of the country. The assurances come in the wake of plans by the Burkinabe authorities to open the flood gates of the Bagre Dam. Some parts of the Upper East and Northern Regions experience annual flooding when the Bagre Dam overflows its banks. Last year areas such as Sandema in the Builsa District and the Kassina Nankana District of the Upper East Region recorded some deaths and loss of property as a result of the floods. But the National NADMO Co-ordinator, (retd.) DCOP Douglas Asiedu Akrofi, told Joy News everything possible was being done this year to prevent loss of lives and property. He said he is convinced no human life will be lost this year. According to him, the people of the flood prone areas were being advised and assisted to move to safer grounds. He denied reports that some residents of low lying areas had refused to leave. Joy FM correspondent Foster Argor however reported from Sandema that the people were unwilling to leave their areas of residence. They said they were just about to harvest their early millet and could not afford to abandon their farms. Story by Malik Abass Daabu