Govt earmarks sh475m for El Nino
Dec 10, 2006
THE Government has earmarked sh475m to help people displaced by floods and landslides.<br>
By Joyce Namutebi
and John Odyek
THE Government has earmarked sh475m to help people displaced by floods and landslides.
Relief and disaster preparedness state minister Musa Ecweru on Thursday told Parliament that the money would be used to purchase food for the affected population.
He said this was a short-term measure.
Ecweru said some NGOs had pledged to provide blankets, tents and clothes to the affected people. The Department of Meteorology predicts that the current El Nino rains would continue up to January.
The excessive rains have led to flooding in Kampala, Butaleja, Tororo, Kotido, Adjumani, Dokolo and Kitgum districts among others.
El Nino has also triggered landslides in highland areas, where the excessive rains have destabilised soils in Bududa, Kasese, Mbale, Manafwa and Bukwo distrits.
Ecweru said in the long-run, the ministry plans to institutionalise El Nino related interventions, by establishing a “permanent inter-agency response platform.â€
He said, “A taskforce is in place with an action plan on how to respond to this season,†adding that UNDP had donated $45,000 (about sh82m).
and John Odyek
THE Government has earmarked sh475m to help people displaced by floods and landslides.
Relief and disaster preparedness state minister Musa Ecweru on Thursday told Parliament that the money would be used to purchase food for the affected population.
He said this was a short-term measure.
Ecweru said some NGOs had pledged to provide blankets, tents and clothes to the affected people. The Department of Meteorology predicts that the current El Nino rains would continue up to January.
The excessive rains have led to flooding in Kampala, Butaleja, Tororo, Kotido, Adjumani, Dokolo and Kitgum districts among others.
El Nino has also triggered landslides in highland areas, where the excessive rains have destabilised soils in Bududa, Kasese, Mbale, Manafwa and Bukwo distrits.
Ecweru said in the long-run, the ministry plans to institutionalise El Nino related interventions, by establishing a “permanent inter-agency response platform.â€
He said, “A taskforce is in place with an action plan on how to respond to this season,†adding that UNDP had donated $45,000 (about sh82m).