Floods leave 100 000 homeless

2007-09-07 20:59

Kampala - Uganda appealed on Friday for relief aid for more than 100 000 people left homeless by floods which have nearly cut off five districts in the north-eastern region of the country.

Authorities are desperately trying to move the homeless, who are crammed in schools, hospitals and government installations, to higher grounds as diseases such malaria and diarrhoea spread among the displaced, mostly children, government officials told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The floods amid heavy rains have submerged the homes, fields and roads, cutting some districts off completely.

Although the estimated number of people displaced is 100 000, the number is far higher, the state minister for relief and disaster preparedness, Musa Ecweru told dpa by telephone

The Ugandan government is appealing for urgent assistance in the form of food, tarpaulins, blankets, medicine and mosquito nets, the minister said.

The floods have been caused by persistent and heavy rains in the generally flat region since the middle of the year and the most affected districts include Soroti, Katakwi, Amuria, Kumi and Bukedeya.

United Nations agencies and other charities started to provide help in the region in August when the floods began swelling, flushing about 50 000 people from their homes.

Now the Ugandan government says there is no cash nor material to handle the tens of thousands of more people whose homes have been flooded and are at risk of water-borne diseases. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA