Uganda ranks 145 of 177 countries on the Human Development Index An estimated 50,000 households (323,000 people) have been affected by the flooding 100% of the affected population is at risk of food insecurity Assessments show 253,000 people do not have access to safe drinking water

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CERF allocates US$ 6 million to the flood response in Uganda

11 October 2007: CERF allocates US$ 6 million to the flood response in Uganda

The heaviest rains in 35 years have caused the worst floods on the African continent in decades leaving many Ugandans desperate for food [Photo: IRIN]

Unusually heavy rainfall since July 2007 has led to severe flooding and water-logging across many parts of eastern, central and northern Uganda. The flooding has affected an already highly vulnerable area of Uganda, where the majority of households are dependent on subsistence agriculture, and basic services are already severely overstretched. In particular, the flooding had a critical impact on the Teso sub-region where the level of flooding was particularly severe, and the initial response capacity of both government and humanitarian actors was inadequate to meet all urgent priority needs.

An estimated 50,000 households (323,000 people) have been affected by the flooding, and require various levels of humanitarian assistance. Most people face food insecurity due to the loss of their first season harvest (due in July/August) and the delay in second season planting. Whereas a two month “hunger gap” is the norm, this year the gap is expected to extend up to 10 months.

The next successful harvest is not expected before February 2008; if the heavy rainfall continues in the most affected areas, harvest will be further delayed. Moreover, it will take at least two harvests for affected households fully to recover their losses.

In addition to damaged homes, schools and health facilities – the traditional mud brick architecture of the region are rendering people particularly susceptible to the wet conditions prevalent in a flood – water and sanitation facilities have been severely impacted by the flooding.  Many flooded latrines have collapsed, leaving the population afraid to use those remaining. A large percentage of water sources have also been contaminated. In addition to the immediate threat posed by this situation, the Health cluster warns of an increased likelihood for waterborne disease outbreaks as flood waters recede. The incidence of malaria, diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory infections has already increased, reportedly by as much as 30%.

The CERF funded WFP project responds to the crisis with a two-phase strategy. In the first phase, it will use the results of rapid assessments to immediately target those in need with life-saving rations equivalent to 100% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). The rations will be provided for three months until the end of the rainy season. In the second phase, a more comprehensive assessment will be undertaken to determine needs and to develop an appropriate longer-term response. 

FAO will seek to restore food production by providing basic but assorted seed kits to 10,000 flood affected households to enable them to quickly resume and restore their food production capacity by the next planting season (February 2008). The interventions aim to restore the livelihoods of the targeted population and their food security.

WHO will provide emergency health, nutrition and HIV/AIDS services to flood affected populations of Teso, Lango, Acholi and Karamoja regions of Uganda establish an active disease surveillance system for potential epidemic diseases, pre-positioning of drugs, medical supplies and materials for epidemics, laboratory strengthening and training of health workers on likely epidemic diseases.

UNICEF will seek to prevent a massive outbreak of communicable diseases associated with inadequate and unsafe water supplies, lack of sanitation facilities and poor hygiene practices, for 126,600 flood affected people within the first month of the response. UNICEF will also secure continued access to quality education to an estimated 70,825 primary school children (51% girls) in flood affected areas through installation of tents for classroom and teacher accommodation, provision of scholastic materials, and hygiene education. Lastly, UNICEF will also provide Emergency Non-Food Items to flood affected communities.

CERF funding to UNHCR will be used to establish Camp Coordination/Camp Management (CCCM) in selected camps in Teso region hosting the IDPS who are most affected by the floods. If the rain continues, more people are expected to be displaced. CCCM will profile the camps population disaggregated by age, gender and identify the most vulnerable persons. After profiling and identification, the most vulnerable part of the population will received tailored assistance inclusive of shelter reconstruction and essential NFI. CCCM will also assist the voluntary relocation of some 45,000 persons to higher grounds and ensure that protection and humanitarian standards are respected during the process of departure, movement and settlement.

Significant parts of eastern and north-eastern Uganda, Teso region as well as parts of Acholi and Lango regions in particular, have been affected by heavy floods. Critical infrastructure has seriously deteriorated; major bridges and roads were badly damaged or washed away. It is becoming increasingly difficult humanitarian actors to reach those in need. WFP has therefore been granted CERF funding to provide logistics support critical to assisting the flood affected population currently cut-off from aid delivery. It is providing common air services and temporary warehousing to the humanitarian community needing to reach the beneficiaries. Cluster assessments have been made possible by helicopter transport to 39 isolated flood-affected areas for nearly 400 passengers from 32 organizations. Over 190.6mt of food and 41.8mt of NFI has been flown to 14 priority destinations that have become inaccessible by road.  

[Last Update: 30 October 2007]

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CERF allocates $7 million to targeted food assistance for the relief and recovery of IDPs, refugees and vulnerable groups in Uganda.

11 April 2007: Recent developments in the nearly 21-year-old conflict in northern Uganda, including a consistent pattern of improved security during the latter half of 2006, have renewed the hopes of approximately 1.4 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) still in camps for a return to their places of origin, and have already encouraged the return of some 300,000 IDPs over the last year. 

The engagement of the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army towards a peaceful solution to the conflict illustrated by the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of 26 August 2006 has been welcomed by civil society, by Acholi community leaders , and by the international community.  Although the cessation of hostilities is certainly an important step towards a negotiated solution to the conflict, the search for durable solutions is ongoing and the political-military situation remains very fragile and very fluid at the time of writing.

A woman prepares food to be sold at Cet Kana, a decongestion camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Gulu District. Many of the approximately 1.4 million Ugandan IDPs depend on food aid. [Photo: IRIN/Deghati]

The humanitarian situation and the phase of displacement of the population vary so greatly across the northern and north-eastern districts of Uganda that it simultaneously requires emergency and broad protection assistance on the one hand, and return and early recovery assistance on the other.

In Gulu, Amuru, Kitgum and Pader despite being the districts hardest hit by the conflict, more than 150,000 persons have moved out of overcrowded IDPs camps to start settling in areas within their parish of origin, gaining access to more land and to a more dignified life, while they wait for the sustained security that will allow them to go all the way to their homes of origin.

Access to social services for this likely growing – and yet ultimately transitional – group is a challenge to be addressed as a matter of urgency. 

Lack of schools and health facilities in the new settlement areas is acting as a factor dividing families, as families choose to leave women and children in camps where they can access basic services.  This exposes women, girls and children to increased risk of gender-based violence and abuse and exploitation.

However, in the same districts, an estimated one million IDPs are expected to remain in camps through 2007, waiting for clearer confirmation of the end of insecurity.  This group will continue to deserve emergency assistance and protective programming to decrease the morbidity and mortality rates and the incidence of human rights violations.  By contrast, in Lira district, there has been a steady process of return accompanied by a progressive reduction of general food distribution in camps and by an increase of early recovery activities for approximately 200,000 returned IDPs.

In eastern Teso district, 130,000 IDPs remain in camps with little prospect of return due to continuing Karamojong-induced instability.  Karamoja itself exhibits some of the most worrisome indicators, including the lowest primary school enrollment (35%), highest maternal and infant mortality (750/100,000 live births and 178/1,000 live births respectively) and the lowest life expectancy, compounded by continued insecurity, high levels of human rights violations and drought.

The CERF grant of US$ 7 million to WFP will enable the agency to avoid an untimely break in the food pipeline and to provide emergency feeding of 1.2 million IDPs in northern Uganda, 183,000 refugees in North West and South West Uganda as well as 500,000 drought affected persons in the Karamoja region for a period of two months. “WFP strongly appreciates the swift response to our March appeal from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the United States, Canada and Norway, but unless there are additional contributions from other donors the problem for 1.28 million displaced and 182,000 refugees will persist,” said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran. read more...

[Last Update: 13 April 2007]

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CERF in Uganda 2008

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