Family turns to begging
Jul 22, 2009
A mother of four children, including twins, has turned her family onto street beggars in Arua town because of famine. Joyce Avako, 35, said she abandoned her home in Ofude village, Yiivu sub-county in Maracha-Terego district after her children had gone hu
By Frank Mugabi
A mother of four children, including twins, has turned her family onto street beggars in Arua town because of famine. Joyce Avako, 35, said she abandoned her home in Ofude village, Yiivu sub-county in Maracha-Terego district after her children had gone hungry for five days.
She said her husband, Francis Anua, a peasant, abandoned the family in January. Avako said the crops they had planted withered because of the prolonged drought.
She added that she tried collecting water for money but the business did not work out, which forced her to sell her land.
Avako explained that her in-laws were unable to help because they were also hit by famine. “We last had a good meal in May. I had explored all means of survival but failed,†Avako said, adding that her other option was to get petty jobs in Arua town.
The family was held at the Arua Police Station, where concerned residents took them food. Begging on the street is a rare practice in the town.
Maracha-Terego is one of the districts in West Nile that has suffered famine. The situation has forced some residents to eat a highly toxic type of cassava.
About four children, including two from the same family, died and five others were hospitalised after eating the cassava.
A mother of four children, including twins, has turned her family onto street beggars in Arua town because of famine. Joyce Avako, 35, said she abandoned her home in Ofude village, Yiivu sub-county in Maracha-Terego district after her children had gone hungry for five days.
She said her husband, Francis Anua, a peasant, abandoned the family in January. Avako said the crops they had planted withered because of the prolonged drought.
She added that she tried collecting water for money but the business did not work out, which forced her to sell her land.
Avako explained that her in-laws were unable to help because they were also hit by famine. “We last had a good meal in May. I had explored all means of survival but failed,†Avako said, adding that her other option was to get petty jobs in Arua town.
The family was held at the Arua Police Station, where concerned residents took them food. Begging on the street is a rare practice in the town.
Maracha-Terego is one of the districts in West Nile that has suffered famine. The situation has forced some residents to eat a highly toxic type of cassava.
About four children, including two from the same family, died and five others were hospitalised after eating the cassava.