Red Cross aids refugees
Sep 25, 2005
Nkondo in Hoima district has become home to people fleeing tribal clashes in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.<br>They started coming into the area in 2000 and many of them were assimilated into the local community while others established homes near Lake Albert.
By William Rwebembera
Nkondo in Hoima district has become home to people fleeing tribal clashes in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They started coming into the area in 2000 and many of them were assimilated into the local community while others established homes near Lake Albert.
However, those who came early this year have remained homeless and keep on hiding for fear of being taken to refugee camps or deported.
Suffering and death characterise the lives of these people. Human excreta covers the courtyards and heavy rains drain it into the lake from where water for domestic consumption is drawn. Whereas most children die of malaria, many others die of diarrhoea, dysentery and bilharzia, a sign of lack of safe water.
“About 13 children die every week either of starvation or malaria,†says James Ochaya, the LC2 chairman.
The Uganda Red Cross Society’s (URCS) National Disaster Response Team intervened recently by giving relief to refugees. The team was carrying out a simulation exercise on a contingency plan on cross-boarder population movement.
Before the simulation exercise of August 23, Hoima Red Cross branch educated the community on health, nutrition, water and sanitation.
“Although waste disposal is still a problem, there is some improvement. Since the URCS started carrying out health education, many of the Congolese have learnt to use latrines, which they had never used,†Ochaya said.
Christopher Asiimwe, the district health inspector, said the death rate has reduced from five children a day to one. However, he said malaria cases were still high.
During the simulation exercise, 25 relief experts and the Red Cross Action Team of Hoima provided health services and bars of soap to the refugees. They catered for mainly pregnant women and children suffering from malaria, malnutrition, dehydration, worms and Bilharzia.
“We knew people here were suffering more than those at other entry points, but we did not expect the situation to be so alarming. Many people think that suffering is only in the north, but these refugees are suffering a lot. More humanitarian support is needed to save them from dying in big numbers as they are now,†said Charles Avuasea, the URCS disaster preparedness and response programme officer, who headed the team.
Avuasea said his team would plan to contain the disaster and urged government to provide help to the refugees.
Ends
Nkondo in Hoima district has become home to people fleeing tribal clashes in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They started coming into the area in 2000 and many of them were assimilated into the local community while others established homes near Lake Albert.
However, those who came early this year have remained homeless and keep on hiding for fear of being taken to refugee camps or deported.
Suffering and death characterise the lives of these people. Human excreta covers the courtyards and heavy rains drain it into the lake from where water for domestic consumption is drawn. Whereas most children die of malaria, many others die of diarrhoea, dysentery and bilharzia, a sign of lack of safe water.
“About 13 children die every week either of starvation or malaria,†says James Ochaya, the LC2 chairman.
The Uganda Red Cross Society’s (URCS) National Disaster Response Team intervened recently by giving relief to refugees. The team was carrying out a simulation exercise on a contingency plan on cross-boarder population movement.
Before the simulation exercise of August 23, Hoima Red Cross branch educated the community on health, nutrition, water and sanitation.
“Although waste disposal is still a problem, there is some improvement. Since the URCS started carrying out health education, many of the Congolese have learnt to use latrines, which they had never used,†Ochaya said.
Christopher Asiimwe, the district health inspector, said the death rate has reduced from five children a day to one. However, he said malaria cases were still high.
During the simulation exercise, 25 relief experts and the Red Cross Action Team of Hoima provided health services and bars of soap to the refugees. They catered for mainly pregnant women and children suffering from malaria, malnutrition, dehydration, worms and Bilharzia.
“We knew people here were suffering more than those at other entry points, but we did not expect the situation to be so alarming. Many people think that suffering is only in the north, but these refugees are suffering a lot. More humanitarian support is needed to save them from dying in big numbers as they are now,†said Charles Avuasea, the URCS disaster preparedness and response programme officer, who headed the team.
Avuasea said his team would plan to contain the disaster and urged government to provide help to the refugees.
Ends