Joint teams to assess impact of flooding in eastern Uganda

(Kampala: 22 August 2007): The Government of Uganda and the United Nations will field two joint teams to assess the impact of severe flooding across large swaths of eastern Uganda.

The two teams are expected to begin their assessments in the Teso and Mbale regions by the end of the week. They will focus particular attention on the impact of the flooding on water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, health, food security, shelter, and road conditions. Each team will be led by a representative of the Office of the Prime Minister/Disaster Management Office, supported by experts from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as well as the Uganda Red Cross Society.

Many parts of eastern Uganda have experienced unusually heavy rainfall since late July - the heaviest in 35 years - leading to significant flooding and related damage. An initial inter-agency assessment, carried out with the support of local authorities in Katakwi and Amuria districts, revealed that nearly 2,000 people across the two districts have been forced to leave their homes due to the flooding. Nearly 4,000 households have reported damage to food crops, particularly cassava and ground nuts, threatening the first season harvest, as well as opportunities for second season planting. In total, this initial assessment revealed an estimated 8,500 acres of affected cropland.

According to the Uganda Red Cross Society, which has also conducted initial assessments in the districts of Amuria and Katakwi, as well as in Budada, Bukeda, Kumi and Sironko in eastern Uganda, as of 20 August, nearly 10,200 households (some 50,000 individuals), had been affected by the flooding, with more than 3,400 severely affected. The number of affected households is expected to rise further as information from additional assessments is received, particularly from the district of Kapchorwa, where landslides have been reported.

In addition to damage to fields and gardens, the flooding has impacted access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities in affected areas. Unprotected water sources such as springs and open wells have been contaminated by flood water, while some boreholes in Amuria and Katakwi district have also begun to seep and are contaminated. Sanitation facilities, particularly in Katakwi district, have been damaged and/or destroyed, with many people afraid to use remaining latrines for fear they will collapse.

While no outbreaks of infectious disease have been confirmed, conditions are conducive for increased rates of malaria, diarrhoea, skin diseases, respiratory chest infections and intestinal worms - diseases most prevalent in waterlogged and bushy areas.

Substantial damage to roads, bridges and culverts has also been reported, limiting access to the affected areas. In particular, the main bridges linking Amuria - Katakwi, Amuria - Lira and Amuria - Anyara, as well as the Katakwi - Soroti trunk road have been damaged.

The teams, which are expected to conclude their assessments by the middle of next week, will make recommendations for an effective response to the current situation. Additional information will be made available as possible.

For more information, please contact: Kristen Knutson, Public Information Officer, OCHA-Uganda: +256 772 759 996, knutson@un.org; or Lydia Mirembe Ssenyonjo, National Information Officer, OCHA-Uganda: +256 772 749 857, mirembessenyonjo@un.org