This year’s El Nino weather phenomenon, which brings increased rainfall to East Africa, could possibly the strongest on record. In Teso rains are pounding the region and many communities have already been affected. Nearly 2000 households have seen their homes destroyed or have crops rotting in the ground. The districts of Amuria, Katakwi and Serere have had sections of their communities displaced and are being housed in schools. This is just the beginning, with the forecasters predicting that rain could continue through to January or February, which is the ‘dry’ season. The humanitarian situation is expected to deteriorate further in the coming months.
Moses Egayu, the Director of TEDDO (the development agency for the Church of Uganda Soroti Diocese) comments: “The situation is quite alarming yet this is just the first month of rains. Its predicted that the situation will worsen. Acanga primary school and Obulejet Primary school in Ngariam are hosting displaced persons. The sanitation situation is horrific since latrines have collapse and sewerage flows along with water; cassava is rotting in the water logged gardens and households are having challenges drying what they have harvested.”
If the situation continues as predicted, issues such as water-borne disease and food availability will become a major issue. Action is needed NOW to avoid this becoming a significant humanitarian crisis in the region. Water purification tablets along with fast growing seeds are urgently required, along with tarpaulins for emergency shelter. The TDT partners in this area (TEDDO and PAG KIDDO), will be distributing relief and reporting to us on what has been done.
Please send any donations, marked ‘Flood Relief’ to Teso Development Trust, 15 Eildon Hills Close, Castle Grange, Hull, HU7 4ZJ. Or donate on-line, mentioning ‘Flood Relief’.