Highlights

• Horn of Africa remains precarious
• Crisis persists in Great Lakes
• Deteriorating humanitarian situation in South Sudan
• Urban food security of concern in Kenya
• Gains in fighting malnutrition in Kenya remain fragile
• WHO concerned by cholera in Kismayo, Somalia
• Food security interventions ramped up in Ethiopia
• Ethiopia works to increase refugee hosting capacity

Written by Catherine Ntabadde

Following heavy rains, a mudslide yesterday occurred in Bikhamali Village, Wanale Sub County in Mbale district. A rock rolled hitting a house in the area. According to Uganda Red Cross assessments, no one was injured as the 12 occupants in the house escaped unhurt.

URCS Mbale Region Program Manager Stephen Wamukota says the 12 residents have been advised to temporarily stay with friends and relatives in safer areas as the Red Cross expedites means of supporting them with essential household items.

As the Red Cross continues to help people after a landslide in Uganda, which caused at least 18 deaths on 24 June, heavy rains in the region mean thousands more remain at risk.

The landslide ripped through four villages in Bududa district, burying houses in mud. With visible cracks in the soil and continuing rains, assessments by local Red Cross staff indicate 3,368 people are in imminent danger and need to be relocated immediately.

Written by Catherine Ntabadde

The Uganda Red Cross Society yesterday (July 10) flagged off donations received for the people of Bududa. Uganda's State Minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Musa Ecweru flagged of the donations at Nakumatt Oasis Mall.

Representatives from MTN Uganda, East African Breweries, Nakasero Hospital, Sino Africa Medicines and Nakumatt Uganda who have made donations attended the function.

Summary:

Heavy rains on 24 June 2012 in Bududa District caused a serious landslide that buried the villages of Namanga and Bunakasala, affecting approximately 5 acres of land in the mountainous area of Elgon. A similar event occurred in 2010. The affected area has steep slopes and is remote and difficult to access by road. So far, 18 people have been reported by relatives and friends as missing and are believed to be dead, buried under the rubble. In total, 15 houses have been completely buried in mudslides.

By Joseph Wanzusi

Rescue workers have recovered two more bodies buried in the mud after a landslide roared down rain-saturated hills and engulfed homes in Bududa two weeks ago, local authorities said.

This brings to four the number of bodies pulled out of the lanslide rubble however many people remain missing.

By Wambi Michael

BUDUDA, Uganda, Jul 4 2012 (IPS) - The Ugandan government says it will forcibly remove people settling on the steep slopes of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda’s Bududa District, as the growing population has resulted in increased landslides in recent years.

In the latest one on Jun. 25, an estimated 100 people are feared dead and up to 250 have been unaccounted for when three villages were washed away after heavy rainfall in the area.

Over the last three years, landslides have buried alive several hundred people living on the slopes of Mount Elgon.

By Daniel Edyegu

An outbreak of cholera has hit Bunakasala parish in Bulucheke sub-county in Bududa district, spelling double tragedy to the area that was struck by landslides last week.

Betty Mukyala, the Bududa acting district health officer disclosed in an interview on Sunday that three cholera patients from Bunakasala parish were admitted to Bushika Health Centre for treatment.

Mukyala attributed the outbreak to the inadequacy of safe water points in the parish located along the steep slopes of Mt. Elgon.

Rescue workers removed two more bodies buried in the mud after a landslide roared down rain-saturated hills and engulfed homes in Bududa on Tuesday, local authorities said.

The body of a baby was rescued at 2 p.m. Saturday while 70 people remain missing, according to a spokesman for the Uganda Red Cross.

The landslide occurred last Tuesday in Bududa, which was drenched by a rainstorm. The landslide is estimated to have killed 20 people.