Floods wreck havoc in East and North
<br>THOUSANDS of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Lango sub-region have fled back to the camps after their homes were destroyed by floods. The water has also swept away 20 bridges in the region.
By Patrick Okino
and Bonney Odongo in Lira
THOUSANDS of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Lango sub-region have fled back to the camps after their homes were destroyed by floods. The water has also swept away 20 bridges in the region.
The rehabilitation of schools and health centres has stopped and the delivery of humanitarian aid came to a halt.
A water drilling project for the Anti-Stock Theft Unit at Alir in Olilim sub-county also stalled as trucks, ferrying the materials, got stuck in the mud.
The worst-affected counties in Lira include Otuke, Moroto, Erute North, some parts of Dokolo, Amolatar and Oyam districts. Amonmaka Bridge, which links Lira to Kotido district, has been completely flooded, making it impassable.
The Ajur bridge and the bridges in Obalanga were also washed away, thus cutting all links to Teso.
In Oyam, the main road that connects Ngai sub-county to Oyam town council was cut off. Apac district was also affected, with crops and household items destroyed in Aboke and Alito sub-counties.
Fleeing villagers are now using dug-out canoes to cross the flooded roads as they take sanctuary at nearby trading centres, sub-counties and former camps.
Addressing journalists on Saturday at his office in Lira town, the lands minister, Daniel Omara Atubo, described the situation as “a threatening disaster.â€
Atubo’s car was stuck at Wianyanga in Aloi sub-county for four days. He walked for two kilometres to board another vehicle.
“We are threatened with a serious disaster and I hope the Government and the international community do something to save the situation. They also need to work out a solution that will prevent this disaster from reoccuring,†Atubo said.
He added that there would be serious food shortage and health-related problems, as gardens have been flooded, grass-thatched houses have collapsed and pit latrines are overflowing.
The Omoro LC5 councillor, David Kennedy Odongo, said over 10,000 people at Alololo and Ocokober parishes had fled their homes and were living at the sub-county headquarters, schools, and Omoro trading centre.
Franco Ojur, the Lira LC5 chairman, advised the sub-county disasters committee to collect data about people displaced, houses and crops destroyed and submit them to his office.
and Bonney Odongo in Lira
THOUSANDS of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Lango sub-region have fled back to the camps after their homes were destroyed by floods. The water has also swept away 20 bridges in the region.
The rehabilitation of schools and health centres has stopped and the delivery of humanitarian aid came to a halt.
A water drilling project for the Anti-Stock Theft Unit at Alir in Olilim sub-county also stalled as trucks, ferrying the materials, got stuck in the mud.
The worst-affected counties in Lira include Otuke, Moroto, Erute North, some parts of Dokolo, Amolatar and Oyam districts. Amonmaka Bridge, which links Lira to Kotido district, has been completely flooded, making it impassable.
The Ajur bridge and the bridges in Obalanga were also washed away, thus cutting all links to Teso.
In Oyam, the main road that connects Ngai sub-county to Oyam town council was cut off. Apac district was also affected, with crops and household items destroyed in Aboke and Alito sub-counties.
Fleeing villagers are now using dug-out canoes to cross the flooded roads as they take sanctuary at nearby trading centres, sub-counties and former camps.
Addressing journalists on Saturday at his office in Lira town, the lands minister, Daniel Omara Atubo, described the situation as “a threatening disaster.â€
Atubo’s car was stuck at Wianyanga in Aloi sub-county for four days. He walked for two kilometres to board another vehicle.
“We are threatened with a serious disaster and I hope the Government and the international community do something to save the situation. They also need to work out a solution that will prevent this disaster from reoccuring,†Atubo said.
He added that there would be serious food shortage and health-related problems, as gardens have been flooded, grass-thatched houses have collapsed and pit latrines are overflowing.
The Omoro LC5 councillor, David Kennedy Odongo, said over 10,000 people at Alololo and Ocokober parishes had fled their homes and were living at the sub-county headquarters, schools, and Omoro trading centre.
Franco Ojur, the Lira LC5 chairman, advised the sub-county disasters committee to collect data about people displaced, houses and crops destroyed and submit them to his office.