In September and October of 2019, the Upper East Region of Ghana and most of northern Ghana experienced torrential rains, causing the Bagre Dam to overflow. Widespread flooding impacted farmland and homes, displacing over 26,000 people and destroying their livelihoods. Approximately 6,000 houses were partially damaged or destroyed. In addition, the standing water has exposed women and children to health risks such as malaria and other waterborne illnesses.

With the support of Episcopal Relief & Development, ADDRO, the relief and development arm of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale in northern Ghana, is building on their networks of health volunteers and other community relationships to provide critical relief kits for impacted families. These kits include rice, maize, beans, cooking oil, salt, soap, mattresses and mosquito nets. ADDRO is working closely with government agencies to avoid duplication of assistance so that the most vulnerable are reached.

“Many of the impacted families are participants in ADDRO and Episcopal Relief & Development’s early childhood development program,” said Nagulan Nesiah, Senior Program Officer, Disaster Response and Risk Reduction for Episcopal Relief & Development. “These existing relationships helped us to quickly identify where help was most needed. We remain committed to supporting these communities as they begin to rebuild.”

Please pray for all the individuals and families affected by the flooding. To learn more about Episcopal Relief & Development’s disaster risk reduction work, visit www.episcopalrelief.org/disaster-risk-reduction.

For over 75 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has been working together with supporters and partners for lasting change around the world. Each year the organization facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives for more than 3 million people struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease. Inspired by Jesus’ words in Matthew 25, Episcopal Relief & Development leverages the expertise and resources of Anglican and other partners to deliver measurable and sustainable change in three signature program areas: Women, Children and Climate.