231 households accommodating 1, 392 people in the Sub Counties of Mazimasa and Himutu in Butaleja district are logged in water following heavy rains. According to the Vulnerability Assessments conducted by Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS), the heavy rains have also destroyed food crops for 592 households (4, 144 people).
URCS Mbale Region Program Manager Stephen Wamukota says the current situation may in future lead to famine as a result of food shortages.
URCS yesterday (August 22, 2011) distributed essential household items to the 231 households. The items include tarpaulins, blankets, plates, cups, jerrycans, soap and saucepans.
Butalejja district has informed the Office of Prime Minister and other stakeholders like World Food Programme to provide food to the 592 households whose crops have been destroyed.
The URCS assessments indicate that apart from food, other urgent needs are water purification tablets and mosquito nets. There is also need to introduce Disaster Risk Reduction, water and sanitation activities in Himutu and Mazimasa Sub Counties.
In Kaabong district; the increasing heavy rains coupled with floods are hindering humanitarian work as some roads are cut off. URCS assessments warn of human displaced due to flooding, posing a health danger of cholera and Hepatitis E increasing as a result of poor sanitation practices. In Kotido; several bridges have been destroyed due to the heavy rains.
In Bududa; The Office of Prime Minister distributed food to 45 households whose crops were destroyed during a mudslide. The six people who were injured received essential household items from URCS. Four the injured have since been discharged. The two still admitted at Bududa Hospital are also recovering steadily.