Sh3b for famine-hit Karamoja
May 20, 2008
THE Government has earmarked sh3b to fight famine in Karamoja and other districts that were affected by floods last year. Due to famine, people in Karamoja have resorted to eating rats.<br>
By Barbara Among
THE Government has earmarked sh3b to fight famine in Karamoja and other districts that were affected by floods last year. Due to famine, people in Karamoja have resorted to eating rats.
There are several species of edible rats in Karamoja and Teso region.
“When I visited Karamoja over the weekend, I found that people were eating rats, herbs and non-poisonous leaves,†the Minister for Karamoja Region Affairs, Aston Kajara, said.
Addressing journalists yesterday, the disaster preparedness and relief state minister, Musa Ecweru, said: “The Office of the Prime Minister asked for sh9.2b but so far, sh3b has been allocated to address famine in the north and the north-eastern region.â€
Ecweru said the sh3b would, however, buy food that would only last up to June.
Teso, Karamoja, Lango, and Acholi regions, which were affected by floods and drought last year, are facing an acute food shortage.
The situation has been worsened by the high demand for the limited food supplies by the neighbouring countries like South Sudan and Kenya.
The two ministers, however, refuted reports by MPs from the sub-region that 30 people had died of hunger-related illnesses.
“There are a few deaths but mainly from diarrhoea and other diseases,†Ecweru said.
He added that the Government and the World Food Programme (WFP) were providing relief food to minimise the suffering of the affected population.
So far, 360 metric tonnes of posho and 70 metric tonnes of beans have been distributed to the Karimojong between March and May by the Government.
WFP delivered over 8,501 metric tonnes of food in Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Kotido and Abim districts.
THE Government has earmarked sh3b to fight famine in Karamoja and other districts that were affected by floods last year. Due to famine, people in Karamoja have resorted to eating rats.
There are several species of edible rats in Karamoja and Teso region.
“When I visited Karamoja over the weekend, I found that people were eating rats, herbs and non-poisonous leaves,†the Minister for Karamoja Region Affairs, Aston Kajara, said.
Addressing journalists yesterday, the disaster preparedness and relief state minister, Musa Ecweru, said: “The Office of the Prime Minister asked for sh9.2b but so far, sh3b has been allocated to address famine in the north and the north-eastern region.â€
Ecweru said the sh3b would, however, buy food that would only last up to June.
Teso, Karamoja, Lango, and Acholi regions, which were affected by floods and drought last year, are facing an acute food shortage.
The situation has been worsened by the high demand for the limited food supplies by the neighbouring countries like South Sudan and Kenya.
The two ministers, however, refuted reports by MPs from the sub-region that 30 people had died of hunger-related illnesses.
“There are a few deaths but mainly from diarrhoea and other diseases,†Ecweru said.
He added that the Government and the World Food Programme (WFP) were providing relief food to minimise the suffering of the affected population.
So far, 360 metric tonnes of posho and 70 metric tonnes of beans have been distributed to the Karimojong between March and May by the Government.
WFP delivered over 8,501 metric tonnes of food in Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Kotido and Abim districts.