Starving Karimojong cross to Pader in search of food
Apr 07, 2009
At least 800 Karimojong of the Jie ethnic group have crossed to Pader district in search of food following the famine that has hit Kotido district, officials have said.
By Olandason Wanyama
At least 800 Karimojong of the Jie ethnic group have crossed to Pader district in search of food following the famine that has hit Kotido district, officials have said.
Kotido LC5 chairman Paul Lomanio said on Wednesday that farmers in the district had not harvested any food. “The Karamoja sub-region was severely hit by drought in the past two years,†he said. “Most children under the age of five are malnourished because of hunger.â€
Lomanio said a crop census which was carried out recently, showed availability of food at 5% the total food requirement.
He said the district councillors were making efforts to settle the communities in fertile borders. Jie county Member of Parliament Lokii Peter Abraham said the youth should be involved in the excavation of valley dams so that they could own the project.
“The water deficit for production and for the cattle should be covered. That is when the region can realise tangible development,†he said.
At least 800 Karimojong of the Jie ethnic group have crossed to Pader district in search of food following the famine that has hit Kotido district, officials have said.
Kotido LC5 chairman Paul Lomanio said on Wednesday that farmers in the district had not harvested any food. “The Karamoja sub-region was severely hit by drought in the past two years,†he said. “Most children under the age of five are malnourished because of hunger.â€
Lomanio said a crop census which was carried out recently, showed availability of food at 5% the total food requirement.
He said the district councillors were making efforts to settle the communities in fertile borders. Jie county Member of Parliament Lokii Peter Abraham said the youth should be involved in the excavation of valley dams so that they could own the project.
“The water deficit for production and for the cattle should be covered. That is when the region can realise tangible development,†he said.