Army airlifts 150 students
Sep 20, 2007
THE army yesterday airlifted over 150 students who had been stranded in the Acholi sub-region due to the floods in the North.
By Vision Reporters
THE army yesterday airlifted over 150 students who had been stranded in the Acholi sub-region due to the floods in the North.
Priority was given to Primary 7, Senior 4 and Senior 6 candidates, who are expected to start their final examinations in a few weeks time.
The UPDF also used boats to help about 70 students cross Aswa River, which has cut off Pader from Gulu and Lira districts.
“I came to Gulu last Saturday hoping that I would travel back to Kitgum on Monday for classes, only to reach Aswa Bridge and find the bridge under water,†Nuhm Laker, a student of Kitgum Vision College, told The New Vision.
“We are left with only three weeks to the exams. I am really excited to be assisted by the army to reach Kitgum. This is my first time to use a helicopter.â€
Arriving at the Gulu military airbase,
Grace Amony of Gulu High School said she was happy she had finally reached her school.
“We were more than 100 students at Kitgum airport this morning, all struggling to climb the helicopter. Only 20 of us made it. Even non-students were struggling to take the flight but the army stopped them.â€
The floods continue to wreck havoc all over northern and eastern Uganda. One of the youths who had been making money by helping travelers cross Aswa River, drowned on Wednesday, according to the LC5 councillor of Atanga sub-county in Pader, Joseph Kal-Okwera.
Manafwa district in the east reported yesterday that four school blocks had been destroyed. The children were studying in nearby churches and under trees. Manafwa acting district education officer, Patrick Mabuya, said Bubukanza, Bungati, Buwabwala and Bumbo primary schools had been affected.
He said he had closed Bunabutsale Primary School as the toilets had been washed away by landslides. Some toilets at Lirima Primary School were also damaged.
Meanwhile, the relief operation is gaining momentum with several humanitarian organisations bringing in aid.
In the Teso sub-region, World Food Programme (WFP) used a passenger helicopter to deliver food from Soroti town to Acowa and Amero internally displaced people’s camps in Amuria district.
“We went to Acowa and found a desperate situation. We could not wait for the cargo plane to carry the foodstuffs,†said Geoffrey Ebong, the WFP co-ordinator for the East.
The helicopter ferried in maize meal, beans, cooking oil as well as tents and blankets. Each household received 100kgs of maize meal, 20kgs of beans and 5 litres of oil, expected to last them for one month.
The Uganda Red Cross Society was due to give out construction tools to affected people in the eastern region.
“If we give them ladders, saws and hammers, they will be able to build more permanent shelters for themselves,†said spokesperson Catherine Ntabadde.
A team from the International Federation of the Red Cross, that came to assess the situation in Magoro IDP camp in Katakwi, failed to cross Omasia swamp.
“Our cars could not make it. There were only two boats at the crossing point and too many people struggling to use them,†said Ntabadde.
Companies have joined humanitarian organisations in raising funds for the victims. Mobile phone operator, uganda telecom, has taken the lead.
“By sending an sms from a uganda telecom mobile phone, reading FLOOD to 198, a contribution of sh1,000 will have been made,†the company’s communication officer Mark Kaheru announced.
“Uganda telecom will send the money to a reputable NGO for the purchase of food, clothing, blankets, shelter and medical aid.â€
The UN Office said humanitarian agencies were also stockpiling medical supplies for any outbreak of waterborne diseases. The US embassy yesterday announced a contribution of $100,000 for plastic sheeting, water and sanitation.
Contributions by:
THE army yesterday airlifted over 150 students who had been stranded in the Acholi sub-region due to the floods in the North.
Priority was given to Primary 7, Senior 4 and Senior 6 candidates, who are expected to start their final examinations in a few weeks time.
The UPDF also used boats to help about 70 students cross Aswa River, which has cut off Pader from Gulu and Lira districts.
“I came to Gulu last Saturday hoping that I would travel back to Kitgum on Monday for classes, only to reach Aswa Bridge and find the bridge under water,†Nuhm Laker, a student of Kitgum Vision College, told The New Vision.
“We are left with only three weeks to the exams. I am really excited to be assisted by the army to reach Kitgum. This is my first time to use a helicopter.â€
Arriving at the Gulu military airbase,
Grace Amony of Gulu High School said she was happy she had finally reached her school.
“We were more than 100 students at Kitgum airport this morning, all struggling to climb the helicopter. Only 20 of us made it. Even non-students were struggling to take the flight but the army stopped them.â€
The floods continue to wreck havoc all over northern and eastern Uganda. One of the youths who had been making money by helping travelers cross Aswa River, drowned on Wednesday, according to the LC5 councillor of Atanga sub-county in Pader, Joseph Kal-Okwera.
Manafwa district in the east reported yesterday that four school blocks had been destroyed. The children were studying in nearby churches and under trees. Manafwa acting district education officer, Patrick Mabuya, said Bubukanza, Bungati, Buwabwala and Bumbo primary schools had been affected.
He said he had closed Bunabutsale Primary School as the toilets had been washed away by landslides. Some toilets at Lirima Primary School were also damaged.
Meanwhile, the relief operation is gaining momentum with several humanitarian organisations bringing in aid.
In the Teso sub-region, World Food Programme (WFP) used a passenger helicopter to deliver food from Soroti town to Acowa and Amero internally displaced people’s camps in Amuria district.
“We went to Acowa and found a desperate situation. We could not wait for the cargo plane to carry the foodstuffs,†said Geoffrey Ebong, the WFP co-ordinator for the East.
The helicopter ferried in maize meal, beans, cooking oil as well as tents and blankets. Each household received 100kgs of maize meal, 20kgs of beans and 5 litres of oil, expected to last them for one month.
The Uganda Red Cross Society was due to give out construction tools to affected people in the eastern region.
“If we give them ladders, saws and hammers, they will be able to build more permanent shelters for themselves,†said spokesperson Catherine Ntabadde.
A team from the International Federation of the Red Cross, that came to assess the situation in Magoro IDP camp in Katakwi, failed to cross Omasia swamp.
“Our cars could not make it. There were only two boats at the crossing point and too many people struggling to use them,†said Ntabadde.
Companies have joined humanitarian organisations in raising funds for the victims. Mobile phone operator, uganda telecom, has taken the lead.
“By sending an sms from a uganda telecom mobile phone, reading FLOOD to 198, a contribution of sh1,000 will have been made,†the company’s communication officer Mark Kaheru announced.
“Uganda telecom will send the money to a reputable NGO for the purchase of food, clothing, blankets, shelter and medical aid.â€
The UN Office said humanitarian agencies were also stockpiling medical supplies for any outbreak of waterborne diseases. The US embassy yesterday announced a contribution of $100,000 for plastic sheeting, water and sanitation.
Contributions by: