Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih says residents in the region are facing a tough time after last Thursday's downpour that has left many displaced and cut off.

He has, therefore, called on all and sundry to assist the region with any form of support to lessen the difficulties being faced by residents.

Dr Bin Salih made the statement when he led the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to donate relief items to the flood victims through Assembly Members of the various affected electoral areas.

Whilst calling on international agencies and benevolent organisations to come to the aid of the affected persons, he also appealed to some well-to-do residents to lend a helping hand.

''There are people among us who are capable to support. We should not always look first for support from outside the region. There are capable people in the region. Please, our doors are open. Whatever you have, even if it is a penny it will be of significance to some affected persons.

"The government on its part cannot sit down and watch the affected people continue to suffer. Government will not shirk its responsibility but we need to compliment its efforts to assuage the suffering of the people. We are in difficult periods, and we need the contribution of all and sundry for us to mitigate the sufferings of the affected persons,'' he stated.

The items donated included food items comprising of 100 bags of rice and 30 boxes of cooking oil. The rest are 10 bales of used clothing, 4 bales of blankets, 30 pieces of plastic buckets, 100 pieces of plastic plates, 200 pieces of plastic cups and 50 pieces of students' mattresses.

Apart from the damage on some highways and feeder roads, an initial assessment from the National Disaster Management Organization revealed that 722 farmlands have been destroyed and 336 persons were displaced following the collapse of houses as a result of the violent flash floods.

The Presiding Member of the Nadowli-Kaleo district, Osbert Dambie received the items on behalf of the affected persons and thanked NADMO for the donation.

He pledged that the items will be given to the affected persons.

NADMO Regional Director, Ahmed Mustapha said "we have every confidence in them that they will do a diligent job. My district directors are also here to offer them any support they may need."