The recent past has seen the media reporting about the severe food shortage in many parts of the eastern region. Saturday Monitor's Evelyn Lirri visited Teso sub-region and brings you the appalling situation as residents reportedly survive on mangoes and porridge.

In the midday sun, 70-year-old Peter Oduluse lies quietly on a ragged cloth, spread under a mango tree in the compound of his home. He moves his frail body from side to side as he labours to breathe. He can neither sit nor stand.

The contours of his rib cage are outlined

This report covers the period 01/01/2008 to 31/12/2008.

In brief

Programme purpose: Support Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS), a leading indigenous community-based humanitarian organisation in Sudan, to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability in their country.

Programmes summary: The year 2008 marked three years after the peace agreement was signed in 2005, after a pan-Sudan health assessment was conducted by the Federation. This was proceeded by a high level visit of Red Cross Red Crescent leaders in October

GLIDE No. FL-2007-000138-UGA

Period covered by this Final Report: September 2007 to July 2008

Appeal target (current): CHF 11,413,603 (USD 9,511,366 or EUR 6,942,581);

Final Appeal coverage: 69%;

Appeal history:

- This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on a preliminary basis on 20 September 2007 for CHF 8,928,075 for 6 months to assist 100,000 beneficiaries.

- A total of five operations updates were issued.

- A Revised Emergency Appeal for CHF 11,413,603 was issued on 18 December 2007 to assist 125,000 beneficiaries for 10 months.

Word from the editor

In the month of October, African National Societies converged in Johannesburg for the 7th Pan African Conference. The delegates from 53 National Socieities made committments for the next 4 years and pledged to continue alleviating the suffering of the most vulnerable.

Under the theme, "Together for Action in Africa, the conference focused on HIV/AIDS, Youth, Restoring Family Links, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Intensified capacity building for better health and care delivery. In the 4 years to come, Uganda Red

Each week, the World Health Organization Health Action in Crises in Geneva produces information highlights on critical health-related activities in countries where there are humanitarian crises. Drawing on the various WHO programmes, contributions cover activities from field and country offices and the support provided by WHO regional offices and headquarters. The mandate of the WHO departments specifically concerned with Emergency and Humanitarian Action in Crises is to increase the effectiveness of the WHO contribution to crisis preparedness and response, transition

General Situation during October 2008

Forecast until mid-December 2008

The Desert Locust situation remained calm during October. As the seasonal rains ended and vegetation dried out, locusts declined in the summer breeding areas of the Sahel in West Africa and Sudan, and along the Indo-Pakistan border. Small-scale breeding occurred in western Mauritania and in southern Yemen. During the forecast period, breeding will continue in these places, causing locust numbers to increase slightly. Small-scale is expected to start in northern Mauritania where

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in 185 countries.

Period covered by this Operations Update No 5: 1 January to 30 June 2008

Appeal target: CHF 9.65 million (USD 7.97 million or EUR 5.88 million)

Appeal coverage: 105%

Appeal history:

- Preliminary Emergency Appeal launched on 17 November 2006 for CHF 9,848,235 (USD 7,864,934 or EUR 6,157,653) for 6 months to assist 300,000 people.

Joseph Malinga

Kumi - Government has set aside Shs6b to avert famine in Teso sub region, State minister for Disaster Preparedness Musa Ecweru has said.

Addressing different rallies in Kumi Boma ground and Ngora County headquarters, last Friday, Mr Ecweru said residents will not experience famine as President Museveni had ordered the Finance ministry to give his Ministry shs6bn.

"The Ministry of finance has already secured the money and very soon it is going to be in our office to allow us start the programme of delivering both seeds and food items to you, Mr Ecweru said.