Accra, July 11, GNA - The Ghana Red Cross Society with the support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (I.C.R.C), on Thursday started distributing food items to families in Bawku. A statement from the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday signed by its President, Prof, Stephen Addai said the items, which formed the first part of the consignment would cover 1,000 families in the Bawku Municipality. The food items comprised 2,000 sachets of salt, 10,000 litres of cooking oil, 400 bags of 50kg cowpea and 1,200 bags of 50kg maize. The statement said the only lasting solution to the Bawku crisis was peace and "the Ghana Red Cross Society wishes to appeal to all the parties involved in the conflict and well wishers to work towards that end".

A second phase distribution of similar items has been planned for the 15th of August, 2008, the statement added. Meanwhile, the Regional Branch of the GRC mobilized 27 volunteers from Bolgatanga who commuted between Bolgatanga and Bawku daily to assist the victims especially in the provision of medical support. The volunteers in Bawku have been assisting the wounded, sick persons and pregnant women during curfew hours by conveying them to Zebilla hospital in the Upper East Region.

Since December 2007, Bawku has come under a negative spot light with its recurrent ethnic conflicts, between the two major tribes of the area, the Kusasis and the Mamprusis. The violence spread to neighbourig villages such as Pusiga, zabzugu and Garu. There have been sporadic clashes and killings since January 2008 and several lives have been lost from the violent clashes. The Bawku Municipality had therefore come under various forms of curfews ranging between three hours to 22 hours. As a result, most of the victims do not have access to food because of fear of being attacked when they go out.

The ICRC is an independent organisation ensuring humanitarian protection and assistance for victims of war and armed violence. It intervenes in situations of armed conflict and internal violence.