Floods cause hunger, diseases in Bukedea
Aug 11, 2010
PEOPLE in Bukedea district are at risk of hunger and diseases due to floods caused by heavy rains. Hundreds of residents of Kolir and Malera sub-counties said their crops were destroyed by the floods.
BY SIMON NAULELE AND JAMES ODONG
PEOPLE in Bukedea district are at risk of hunger and diseases due to floods caused by heavy rains. Hundreds of residents of Kolir and Malera sub-counties said their crops were destroyed by the floods.
Michael Odele, the LC1 secretary for Kamutur village, said foodstuffs like cassava, sweet potatoes and groundnuts were rotting in gardens. “Some people are trying to harvest their crops, but they cannot dry them due to the rains,†said Odele on Monday.
He said most of the houses were flooded, while others havd collapsed. Odele said they need graders to dig trenches to divert water to swamps, instead of it collecting in people’s homes.
“We appeal to the Government for tents to be used as temporary shelters by those who are seriously affected and tarpaulins for drying foodstuffs. We also need mobile toilets,†Odele said.
Madelena Angecere of Aerere village said: “We need immediate food relief, mosquito nets and medicine,â€
Angecere said mosquitoes were breeding in the flood waters, causing malaria, yet there were no drugs in health centres. She said floods had also affected water sources. “If you try pumping water from a borehole, it comes with worms. The wells also have dirty water.â€
Anna Ikwap of Tajar village said children had developed skin rushes after sleeping on wet floors and using dirty water. Ben Andrew Akol, a former parish chief, said the health situation is appalling.
“People are defecating in bushes since pit-latrines have been submerged. When it rains, the faeces are washed into water sources, where people collect water for drinking and cooking,†Akol said.
The rains have also affected the education system. Floods washed away Komongomeri and Kamutur bridges, making Kamutur and Tajar parishes in Kolir sub-county inaccessible.
Aminit Busano Primary School did not open for the second term, while Tajar, Kamutur, Akou Etome and Abilaep primary schools have all closed.
Hellen Itupa, the headteacher of Aminit Busano Primary School, said 105 children had dropped out of school due to the floods, while 360 joined other schools.
Kolir sub-county chief Joseph Ochom said some schools were cut off after floods washed away bridges. “It is hard to reach Tajar Primary School. Its three classroom blocks have been condemned after they developed cracks,†said Ochom.
The resident district commissioner, Michael Balatum, called for a permanent solution to the floods. “I have sent a report to the Prime Minister’s office,†he said.
“We urgently need drugs, food and tents for shelter,†Balatum said.
PEOPLE in Bukedea district are at risk of hunger and diseases due to floods caused by heavy rains. Hundreds of residents of Kolir and Malera sub-counties said their crops were destroyed by the floods.
Michael Odele, the LC1 secretary for Kamutur village, said foodstuffs like cassava, sweet potatoes and groundnuts were rotting in gardens. “Some people are trying to harvest their crops, but they cannot dry them due to the rains,†said Odele on Monday.
He said most of the houses were flooded, while others havd collapsed. Odele said they need graders to dig trenches to divert water to swamps, instead of it collecting in people’s homes.
“We appeal to the Government for tents to be used as temporary shelters by those who are seriously affected and tarpaulins for drying foodstuffs. We also need mobile toilets,†Odele said.
Madelena Angecere of Aerere village said: “We need immediate food relief, mosquito nets and medicine,â€
Angecere said mosquitoes were breeding in the flood waters, causing malaria, yet there were no drugs in health centres. She said floods had also affected water sources. “If you try pumping water from a borehole, it comes with worms. The wells also have dirty water.â€
Anna Ikwap of Tajar village said children had developed skin rushes after sleeping on wet floors and using dirty water. Ben Andrew Akol, a former parish chief, said the health situation is appalling.
“People are defecating in bushes since pit-latrines have been submerged. When it rains, the faeces are washed into water sources, where people collect water for drinking and cooking,†Akol said.
The rains have also affected the education system. Floods washed away Komongomeri and Kamutur bridges, making Kamutur and Tajar parishes in Kolir sub-county inaccessible.
Aminit Busano Primary School did not open for the second term, while Tajar, Kamutur, Akou Etome and Abilaep primary schools have all closed.
Hellen Itupa, the headteacher of Aminit Busano Primary School, said 105 children had dropped out of school due to the floods, while 360 joined other schools.
Kolir sub-county chief Joseph Ochom said some schools were cut off after floods washed away bridges. “It is hard to reach Tajar Primary School. Its three classroom blocks have been condemned after they developed cracks,†said Ochom.
The resident district commissioner, Michael Balatum, called for a permanent solution to the floods. “I have sent a report to the Prime Minister’s office,†he said.
“We urgently need drugs, food and tents for shelter,†Balatum said.