UNICEF gives Bundibugyo displaced over sh84m relief

The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund(UNICEF) has distributed relief items worth sh84.3 to the displaced people in Bundibugyo.

UNICEF Uganda communications specialist, Catherine Ntabadde, yesterday told New Vision that the agency is working with the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS), to effect distribution.

The attacks that gripped the Kasese and Bundibugyo in the last two weeks have claimed over 30 lives and displaced hundreds

Ntabadde said distribution of the items started on March 19, through (UCRS) Bundibugyo branch as of March 19.

“UNICEF has provided 1,600 jerry cans, 185 cartoons of soap with 25 bars each, equivalent to a total of 4,625 bars, distributed to over 1,600 displaced households whose family members include some 4,800,” Ntabadde stated.

The communication specialist noted that with the deplorable sanitation, reports indicate that there was an increase in diarrhoea prevalence especially among the children due to poor hygiene practices.

For child protection, UNICEF has provided 13 recreation kits for children to Bubukwanga, Izahura Primary School, Harugale Sub County, Bunguha site and two other smaller sites.

Ntabadde said the kits are intended at restoring a sense of normalcy in the lives of the children. She explained that each kit is suitable for up to 90 children who can participate in team sports and games.

Recreation kits contain games, play and art supplies that provide a range of activities to encourage the development and social interaction of children through playing, story-telling, numeracy, among others.

Following the incidents in Bundibugyo and Kasese, the Office of the Prime Minister wrote to UNICEF requesting support to respond to the needs of the children displaced and affected. UNICEF sits on the inter agency meetings chaired by OPM.

The UN agency has also provided two water tanks of 10,000 litres for water storage to complement URCS provision of water supplies to the displaced.

An inter-agency emergency health kit of essential medicines and supplies to reach 10,000 people for a period of 6 months was dispatched to Bundibugyo Hospital in the second week of March.

The selection and quantification of the medicines included in the kit are based on

recommendations for standard treatment by professional health workers.

For nutrition, 200 cartons each containing 150 sachets of Plumpy Nut, equivalent to 30,000 sachets in total, were distributed to Bundibugyo Hospital and Bubukwanga Health Centre.

Ther intervention is intended to to support management of malnutrition during and beyond March 2016. These will be administered by health workers who underwent training.

“UNICEF plans to re-assess the situation of displaced children and the communities that are hosting them to further clarify the needs of the children,” Ntabadde said.