Teso flood victims receive relief items worth Shs 387 million

AGGREY NYONDWA KIKOBERA

The April floods that hit Teso region in Eastern Uganda left the entire region devastated and in ruins; no food, shelter, property and other basic needs.

The heavy downpours that lasted for months washed away people’s homes, crops and left almost an entire region starving and displaced.

According to residents of Abarilela Sub County in Amuria district, lives were lost and communities have never been able to get up again.

They have been crying to relief agencies and government to run to their rescue following this disastrous blow.

On 17th August, Uganda Red Cross and OPM, with support from UNICEF and UNHCR distributed relief items worth Ushs 387 million to the affected households.

The week long distribution exercise is meant to bring relief to those who lost their homes and property as a result of the floods

“Today we are here to extend this sort of assistance to these affected communities. They have cried for a long time and the government appreciates the efforts made by our partners to respond. Our teams ensured to identify the most affected sub counties and households that were badly hit and we have decide to start with these ones," said Musa Ecweru, the state minister Relief and Disaster Preparedness.

Uganda Red Cross volunteers on ground working with the district disaster management committees assessed the impact of the floods and identified the most hit areas and the affected households.

It’s from this assessment that the basis of the distribution was informed.

“We are honored to take on the mandate to spearhead this distribution. These people were badly hit and have been suffering for so long. We have to appreciate OPM for overseeing this, UNICEF for the Aqua tabs and covering the distribution costs, then UNHCR for the tarpaulins and blankets. Our volunteers have been in these communities doing impact assessment and verification. This is how we were able to identify the most affected households," said Jimmy Asea, coordinator for this relief distribution exercise at Uganda Red Cross Society

Among the items distributed included 2,000 tarpaulins which could be used to put up temporary shelters, 10,000 blankets for adults and children, and Aqua tabs for water purification.

Teso region has in the past battled cholera outbreaks as a result of the floods which lead to improper disposal of human excretion and contamination of borehole water.

According to Ecweru, a recent survey indicates that 80% of the water got from the boreholes is contaminated and therefore needs to be purified to make it clean and safe for drinking.

During the distribution, Red Cross WASH officers held a sensitization session to demonstrate and teach the beneficiaries how to use and apply the water purification tablets effectively, and how to improve sanitation.

The sub county’s leadership couldn’t be any happier.

They expressed their gratitude to all the participating organizations and government for coming to their rescue.

“We really thank Red Cross and the other organizations for what you’ve done today and what I believe are going to do in other parts of the region. The people of Abarilela have been suffering for so long following the loss of all our crops as a result of the rains. We understand that resources are never enough but there are still more affected people and our prayer is that you keep it up and expand this generosity to other remote parts of the district," said Michael Eluluma the Abarilela sub county chairperson.

The distribution targets over 10,000 people in the region and throughout the week will be carried out in Katakwi, Bukedea and Kumi districts.

Teso region received heavy downpours that started earlier in March. This prompted farmers to quickly plant their crops only to be washed away a month later by the disastrous floods.

The situation got out of hand when Lake Bisinia and other rivers burst their banks which led to the prolonged floods. About five people lost their lives and thousands were displayed.