Akim Oda, Nov. 1, GNA - The Birim South District has for the past three years, lost 4.6 billion cedis worth of property through disasters. The District Chief Executive, Mr Yaw Amprofi disclosed this in a speech read on his behalf at the celebration of this years' World Disaster Day held at Akim Oda on Monday.

He mentioned some of the property destroyed as the ripping off of the roofs of part of the Akim Oda market in March last year by a rain storm and the burning of the same market in September 2003 through a fire outbreak.

Mr Amprofi therefore, appealed to every individual, groups, communities and organizations to be disaster conscious and factor emergency situations in their planning activities and programmes. He said in pursuance of that principle, the District Assembly had established a special fund to help manage disasters effectively in the area and appealed to individuals, groups and organizations to donate generously into the fund.

The District Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) Nana Kwaku Opare-Akuffo advised against building on waterways to help prevent flooding.

He was of the opinion that if the environment was well managed, disasters would reduce to the barest minimum.

The Deputy District Forestry Officer, Mrs Rose Ayibor identified bush fires, mining and logging as some of the activities, which turn to destroy the environment and said the forest was dwindling at an alarming rate due to over exploitation.

He said even though two thirds of the land area was covered with water, human activities was depleting inland waters, resulting in scarcity of water in many areas.

The Chief of Oda Nkwanta, Nana Dwamena Akenten II, who chaired the function, stressed the need for all to guard against actions and inactions, which could lead to man-made disasters in the communities.