Kaberamaido hit by floods

Nov 25, 2015

OVER 1300 households have been affected by floods in the three sub counties of Ochero, Anyara and Otuboi in Kaberamaido district

By Michael Onyinge

 

OVER 1300 households have been affected by floods in the three sub counties of Ochero, Anyara and Otuboi in Kaberamaido district.

 

The chairperson of the district disaster committee, Emmy Olaboro Ejuku says they are yet to get data from other sub counties that are equally affected.

 

He says a number of crops have perished as families are left helpless.

 

One of the affected persons from Murem Island, Christine Apio said they sleep in houses that are now wet.

 

Olaboro said most of the sub counties affected lie near Lake Kyoga and in low lands.

 

He said all the senior assistant secretaries had been informed to be on alert to inform the district disaster committee of any effects and eventualities that occur as far as floods are concerned.

 

Some of the low lying sub counties that have been affected include Otuboi, Anyarai and Alwa.

 

Olaboro also said the sub counties that lie along Lake Kyoga that have been affected included Ochero, Kobulubulu, Aperkira, Bululu, Kalaki and some parts of Kaberamaido.

 

The data from the acting senior assistant secretary of Otuboi sub county, John Peter showed that 277 households had been affected.

 

Meanwhile, the Senior Assistant Secretary of Anyara, Peter Eyutu said 583 households had also been affected by floods.

 

In Ochero Sub County, the senior assistant secretary, Richard Elyau said 522 households have also been affected.

 

The LC1 chairperson of Asana Village, Okile parish in Kobulubulu sub county, Robert Ekadu said twenty households had been affected.

 

“Many gardens of my people here have been affected by floods. There is nothing that can be harvested at all” Ekadu said.

 

In Murem village which is an island in Ogerai parish in Kobulubulu Sub County, the residents cried for help from government based on the expected famine.

 

One of the elders of the area, Yuventine Ariong aged 76 said this was the worst flood he had experienced in his life.

 

“I had not seen this kind of rain where water runs through gardens like a river. There must be something unique these days” Ariong said.

 

Ariong lost has lost two gardens of maize, one of sweet potatoes and a garden of ground nuts and bananas.

 

A mother of three month old baby, Sarah Adongo said she had suffered a lot with her baby.

 

“The floods have come at time when some of us as mother have babies. Taking caring of babies during this time has been very hard for me” she said.

 

Another woman in the same village of Murem, Christine Apio said setting cooking stones had also become difficult.

 

She said they had devised a means of having two layers of preparing places for setting fire for cooking.

 

“A separate layer is first raised and another is arranged for cooking since all kitchens here are wet”, Apio said.

 

According to the data that the district has, Olaboro said some of the crops that have been the most affected include maize, millet, cassava, sweet potatoes, ground nuts, sorghum, and soya among others.

 

He said they had already deployed the health assistants to sensitise the communities to guard against the water borne diseases. 

 

“We have deployed the heath assistants in the affected areas to advise the affected people on all health related issues that come with floods”, Olaboro said.

 

Meanwhile since some of the latrines had collapsed, Olaboro said health workers are expected to advise the local people accordingly.

 

However, Martin Aboo, from Kobulubulu said government needs to send for them relief items like tarpaulins, seeds and food.

 

“We should not be regarded as lazy people because of these floods. We had our crops but since floods have destroyed them, it’s a reason why government has to come in to support us”, Aboo said.

 

The LC5 chairperson of Kaberamaido, Albert Anthony Ejoku said they have communicated to minister of disaster preparedness to intervene and come to the rescue of Kaberamaido people.

 

"I have already informed the minister of disaster of the situation on the ground" he said.

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