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Uganda

Kasese floods: Affected population now at 25,445

The population affected by the Kasese floods now stands at 25, 445 according to Uganda Red Cross Society latest report of 8th May 2013.

URCS continues to seek sh1.8bn to assist atleast 18, 000 people. Government through the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness is coordinating the response in Kasese.

The government is assisted by partners like Kasese District authorities and Uganda Red Cross Society. The affected communities are from Bulembia division, Kilembe Sub County, Nyamwamba division, Karusandara sub county, Kitswamba Sub County, Kyabarungira sub county, Bugoye Sub County, Maliba Sub County and Kyalumba Sub County.

The most affected people are from Karusandara Sub County.

Government and Kasese District set up two temporary camps at Kasese and Bugoye primary schools.

At Kasese P.S 3, 878 people have been registered while at Bugoye Primary School there are 1, 341 people are registered. The two camps are now accommodating 5, 219. Out of the 5, 219; 25 are pregnant women; 32 are breast feeding mothers; 2, 894 are children below 12 years.

Uganda Police is helping to track water from Hima and then purify it using installed filters at Kasese Primary School camp. The communities at the camp are using available sanitary facilities i.e 10 latrine stances at Kasese P.S and 4 stances at Bugoye P.S. URCS has constructed four bath shelters at the two camps.

Hygiene promotion sensitization sessions are being conducted by Red Cross volunteers in the two camps to reduce the risks of having outbreaks of diarrhoeal diseases.

The URCS latest report indicates that the people at the two camps cannot go back to their original homes as the houses were washed away or completely destroyed. Water supply infrastructure in many villages was damaged hence there is limited access to clean drinking water.

Many toilets were damaged and this has resulted in people not being able to use toilets. 817 latrines and one sewage treatment unit were completely destroyed.

The Red Cross report identifies the most urgent humanitarian needs as essential household items, food, hygiene and sanitation awareness, water purification tablets, tracing and psychosocial services.