Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has paid a day's working visit to disaster hit communities in the Tamale Metropolis, where he pledged the commitment of government to bring timely relief to the victims. “Government would come in strongly to support the victims to alleviate their plight,” he promised. The disaster, which was caused by a severe rainstorm on Saturday April 21, 2007, affected 500 private homes, 46 government bungalows, 25 school buildings and displaced more than 3,500 people. Electricity supply to the Tamale Teaching Hospital was also affected by the storm. Vice President Mahama, who led a three-member government delegation, said the timely intervention of President John Agyekum Kufuor to the disaster had enlisted the confidence of the people that help was on the way. He appealed to public-spirited organisations and individuals to support the victims to resettle. Vice President Mahama said the pressing concern of government was to rehabilitate schools affected by the storm before the next academic year begins. Some of the areas visited by the Vice President were Ward "K", Ahmaddiya, Kaladan and Dakpema primary schools where the roofs have been ripped off. He also used the opportunity to hand over some of the relief items that the Government gave last Tuesday as an interim assistance to some communities that he visited. The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, said an appeal for fund for the victims was receiving public response, mentioning a ¢50 million donation from the Zenith Bank. The Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr. Mohammed Amin Adam, said the Assembly had committed ¢100 million as seed fund for the victims. He said the Assembly's estimate of the level of damage was hovering around ¢33 billion and that UNICEF had pledged its commitment to renovate all the schools affected by the storm. Source: GNA