Current Situation:
Ebola, first identified in 1976, is one of the deadliest human diseases and has claimed the lives of at least 64 people in the Gulu region of Uganda. An additional 182 cases have also been identified.
Catholic Relief Services has staff in Kampala and Gulu. "Agency staff have returned to the Gulu District and the situation is under control. People have been sensitized on how to deal with Ebola," says Gloria Peterson, Regional Representative for East Africa.
Schools in the area are still closed. Hospitals are continuing to work with the United Nations World Food Programme to provide assistance to families of affected individuals.
Catholic Relief Services is working with local partners and has provided soap disinfectant, surgical masks, rubber gloves as well as other protective gear. Additionally, Catholic Relief Services is currently providing transportation assistance to Center for Disease Control Staff in Gulu.
Other Recent Emergency Activities:
Early in 2000, a severe dry spell affected most of eastern Uganda. This weather pattern caused warriors from the Karamoja area to move west in search of water and pasture for their cattle throughout March and April. The warriors began stealing cattle and goats from local farms, looting houses, raping women and girls and, in some cases, killing local residents.
"The primary challenge for Catholic Relief Services continues to be the insecurity," explained Ray Studer, Northern Program Coordinator for Catholic Relief Services in Uganda. These hostilities resulted in a mass displacement of people from the outlying areas into mission and trading centers. Catholic Relief Services staff in Uganda, working with private funds and a grant from U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, collaborated with both Caritas Kitgum and Caritas Lirensis (Lira District) to meet some of the needs of the most severely affected. Twelve thousand households were supplied with jerry cans, basins, saucepans, blankets, tools and seeds.
Late this summer rains began in Karamoja and the Karamojong warriors had returned to their home areas, also allowing the people who had been displaced to return to their places of residence. This coincided with the farming season and most families were able to plant crops for the second season thus avoiding widespread famine.
Recent Accomplishments:
In an evaluation of the response to the hostilities, it was found that most of the relief items reached the needy and that nearly all the seeds provided were planted. However, concern was raised with the understanding that a similar incursion is possible within the next few months and that the total number of truly needy exceeded the scope of CRS' response. To focus on helping these families recover from the looting and crop destruction, CRS/Uganda has been evaluating several varieties of pigeon peas and peanuts with the hope of locating improved varieties for further multiplication and distribution.
Catholic Relief Services also started a project in earlier this summer to provide meaningful work for the unemployed through the rehabilitation of community roads and valley dams. It is expected that over 9,000 people will work to rehabilitate eight valley dams and over 60 kilometers of road. This project was made possible through a grant from Caritas Norway and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway for an Employment Project for Northern Uganda (EPNU).
Agency Objectives Throughout the Fall:
Completion of the four Infrastructure Rehabilitation Projects structures including a dining hall, bridge, dispensary, and school building
Evaluation of the Karamojo hostilities and recommendations for victims' current needs and the future use of a voucher system for emergency provision of seeds.
Increased collaboration with agency partners, the government and local communities
Increased monitoring of the Food Security Project with the aim of a full set of data on acres under production with proper procedures in place for obtaining reliable information on harvest yields due to begin in November and December.
Background of the Situation:
Reports indicate that pockets of rebels are prevalent throughout the region. Although we do not feel that relief agencies are targeted, the possibility of being in the wrong place at the right time exists. The Ugandan Military maintains a presence in most areas and attempts to provide an assurance of safety. However, incidents continue to occur, and in general, they seem not to be able to eliminate the insurgency.
Agency History:
Catholic Relief Services started programming in Uganda in the early 1980s focusing on AIDS and Microfinance projects. The agency officially opened an office in 1996 and the program expanded to be able to respond to emergencies in the country.