"Already we have accomplished a good deal through our joint response," added Mr. Nikyema, noting that shelter and household goods had been distributed to more than 5,000 families, while more than 15,000 households had received assistance for clean drinking water and more than 30,000 people had benefited from food deliveries.
Unusually heavy rainfall since July 2007 has led to severe flooding and water-logging across many parts of eastern, central and northern Uganda. The flooding, which has affected an already highly vulnerable area of the country in which the majority of households are dependent on subsistence agriculture and basic services are already severely overstretched, has had the most critical impact in the Teso sub-region.
This is due both to the severity of the flooding and the relative lack of existing capacity amongst government actors and humanitarian organizations to respond to needs.
The humanitarian response outlined in the appeal therefore focuses primarily on aid delivery and assistance activities in that sub-region.
The Flash Appeal is based on planning for an estimated 50,000 households (300,000 people) being affected by the flooding and requiring humanitarian assistance to varying extents. Amongst the affected population there are 110,000 already vulnerable internally displaced people. Women and children make up the largest percentage of the overall affected population.
Most have been rendered food insecure by the loss of their first season harvest and the delay in second season planting. Whereas a two month "hunger gap" is the norm, this year it is expected to extend up to 10 months. The next successful harvest cannot be expected before February 2008; if the heavy rainfall continues in the most affected areas, it will be further delayed. Moreover, it will take at least two harvests for affected households fully to recover their losses.
In addition to damaged homes, water and sanitation facilities have been severely impacted by the flooding, with many flooded latrines having collapsed, leaving the population afraid to use those remaining and facing an increased likelihood for waterborne disease outbreaks as flood waters recede. The incidence of malaria, diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory infections has already increased, reportedly by as much as 30 per cent.
Humanitarian assessments continue in the flood-affected areas, although these remain severely hampered as many roads and bridges have been washed away by the flooding. The most affected communities have been entirely cut off by land, and those trying to assist them depend on air and boat transportation for both assessments and aid deliveries. Heavy precipitation is forecast through the month of November. This is likely either to extend the geographical scope of the flooding, or increase the adverse impact on the population already affected, or both.
The humanitarian community in the country has identified several priorities for the emergency response, which include stabilising the initial food security situation, preventing disease outbreaks and ensuring capacity to respond to health emergencies, re-opening schools and ensuring access to primary education, responding to urgent needs for shelter and non-food items, ensuring physical access to the most vulnerable, and understanding the early recovery needs of the affected population and prioritising recovery interventions.
The appeal was launched today from Soroti by the Humanitarian Coordinator and the Ugandan Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness, Mr. Tarsis Kabwegyere, following site visits to two camps , Amaseniko and Oongora in the Amuria district.
Source: Relief Web
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