Kisoro starving families get food

Feb 16, 2009

STARVING families in Kisoro district have received food from the Ministry of Relief and Disaster Preparedness. The food was handed to district officials by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Pius Bigirimana, at the headquarters in Kampala.

By Darious Magara

STARVING families in Kisoro district have received food from the Ministry of Relief and Disaster Preparedness.

The Kisoro Woman MP, Eudia Kwizera, on Thursday said the ministry gave 180 bags of maize floor and 150 bags of beans.

The food was handed to district officials by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Pius Bigirimana, at the headquarters in Kampala.

Heavy rains over the last two weeks wrecked homes in Murola sub-county, leaving over 200 people homeless. Property, animals and gardens were destroyed.
The sub-county chairman, William Hererimana, said people were stranded and famine could hit the area.

Kwizera, in a phone interview, said the food was distributed to 50 families especially those living near the border with DR. Congo.

“We have mostly distributed the food to Maramba, Busanza and Nyabwishenya areas. We request for more food and medical relief from the Government and other NGOs,” Kwizera said.

She also appealed to the people of Kisoro to remain receptive to the Congolese refuges, saying they were related and needed hospitality.

The district chairman, Dr. Philemon Mateke, said the refugees had created social and economic pressure on the residents but calamities like hailstorms and drought had exposed residents more to famine.

A civil war in eastern DR.Congo has seen rebel forces clashing with government forces, leaving thousands of people homeless and some fleeing into Uganda through the districts of Kisoro and Kanungu in western Uganda.

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