Long droughts, food shortage hit Uganda as victims cry out for help
Jul 09, 2009
Following reports of famine countrywide, caused by the long drought, hailstones and floods, our reporters talked to the victims and the leaders about the situation and compiled these stories...
Following reports of famine countrywide, caused by the long drought, hailstones and floods, our reporters talked to the victims and the leaders about the situation and compiled these stories...
By Chris Ocowunb>
When Ventorina Apiyo, 67, left Bobi internally displaced persons camp (IDP) and returned to her village last year, she planted simsim, beans, cassava and maize.
Unfortunately, all the crops dried up due to prolonged drought.
Today, Apio survives on one meal of boiled beans a day.
The former IDP now thinks life was better in the camp, where she was assured of relief food from humanitarian agencies.
Apiyo, who was in her simsim garden, said she does casual work for businessmen dealing in produce in return for beans.
“Government should provide us with food for one more year because all the crops that we had grown dried up due drought,†Apiyo, a resident of Kulu-Otit village in Bobi sub-county in Gulu district, said. “We have so far lost six children after they ate poisonous cassava.â€
The famine is threatening the lives of people in northern and eastern Uganda.
The district agricultural officer, Jackson Lakor, said in many homes, people have only one meal a day.
Agriculture officials said there is a 50% decline in the yield of crops this season due to prolonged drought.
“Many areas are facing severe famine. During the first season crops like groundnuts, maize, simsim and sorghum were greatly affected,†the district production coordinator, Charles Moro, told The New Vision on Tuesday.
He said the district disaster management committee, food security partners like the Food and Agricultural Organisation, Care, the UN food and refugee agencies, WFP, and UNCHR, were assessing the situation.
“We are likely to get more food aid and seeds for the second planting season since the crops in the first season were all destroyed by the drought,†Moro explained.
He noted that farmers who have simsim, cassava and groundnut seeds could not plant them because the rainfall patterns were still unpredictable.
By Chris Ocowunb>
When Ventorina Apiyo, 67, left Bobi internally displaced persons camp (IDP) and returned to her village last year, she planted simsim, beans, cassava and maize.
Unfortunately, all the crops dried up due to prolonged drought.
Today, Apio survives on one meal of boiled beans a day.
The former IDP now thinks life was better in the camp, where she was assured of relief food from humanitarian agencies.
Apiyo, who was in her simsim garden, said she does casual work for businessmen dealing in produce in return for beans.
“Government should provide us with food for one more year because all the crops that we had grown dried up due drought,†Apiyo, a resident of Kulu-Otit village in Bobi sub-county in Gulu district, said. “We have so far lost six children after they ate poisonous cassava.â€
The famine is threatening the lives of people in northern and eastern Uganda.
The district agricultural officer, Jackson Lakor, said in many homes, people have only one meal a day.
Agriculture officials said there is a 50% decline in the yield of crops this season due to prolonged drought.
“Many areas are facing severe famine. During the first season crops like groundnuts, maize, simsim and sorghum were greatly affected,†the district production coordinator, Charles Moro, told The New Vision on Tuesday.
He said the district disaster management committee, food security partners like the Food and Agricultural Organisation, Care, the UN food and refugee agencies, WFP, and UNCHR, were assessing the situation.
“We are likely to get more food aid and seeds for the second planting season since the crops in the first season were all destroyed by the drought,†Moro explained.
He noted that farmers who have simsim, cassava and groundnut seeds could not plant them because the rainfall patterns were still unpredictable.