20th September, 2007
Severe flooding across Uganda has resulted in the displacement of thousands of people from their homes and the deaths of at least 18 people. Twenty five districts, mostly in the eastern and northern regions, have been cut off as a result of the floods, with bridges and major road connections having been washed away. The hardest hit districts are Katakwi, and Amuria and Lira, as well as Soroti, where AMREF works. The northern Uganda Districts of Kitgum and Pader have also been severely affected.
The government of Uganda convened a parliamentary session yesterday afternoon to discuss the flooding, and sent out an appeal to UN agencies and NGOs for assistance. The Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Mr Musa Ecweru, said that at least 70,000 households are in need of food assistance, their crops and livestock having perished in the floods.
AMREF’s country director in Uganda, Joshua Kyallo, visited Soroti District yesterday and met with the district authorities, who appealed for help particularly with treated mosquito nets, basic medicine supplies and rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities.
“The flooding has had a devastating impact on basic infrastructure, especially water and sanitation facilities. I was in a school where a protected spring has completely been submerged. Latrines have collapsed and are overflowing, putting millions of people at risk of catching water-borne diseases,” observed Joshua Kyallo.
The leaders of Soroti said that the district is also in urgent need of mosquito nets to prevent malaria for the most vulnerable people, especially pregnant women and children under five.
“The flooding has exposed women and children to an increased risk of malaria,” said Joshua Kyallo. “There is also urgent need for basic medical supplies, besides rehabilitation of water and sanitation systems.”
Soroti, as well as the affected districts in eastern and northern Uganda, will require about 20,000 mosquito nets, each of which costs about $6. AMREF has received US$10,000 from GlaxoSmithKline for this purpose.
“We urgently need a lot more money if we are to meet the needs of the vulnerable populations in need of protection,” said Joshua Kyallo.
For more information and/or interviews with staff in the field contact Louise Orton in the UK on +44 (0)7939 141 764 or Betty Muriuki in Kenya on +254 20 699 3327