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ACT Alliance Preliminary Appeal: Flash Floods in Kasese, Uganda

by Elisabeth Gouel | ACT Alliance - Switzerland
Monday, 13 May 2013 15:43 GMT

* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.

 

Preliminary Appeal


UGANDA

Flash Floods in Kasese - UGA131
 
Preliminary Appeal Target: US$ 220,497

Balance Requested: US$ 220,497


Geneva, 13 May 2013

On 1st and 5th May 2013, heavy rains fell in Kasese District of Uganda causing flash floods that led to loss of life and destruction of property. 3,965 households in 57 villages were affected (Red Cross) with 25,445 people forced out of their homes and thus far, 6 people confirmed dead  (Uganda Red Cross).  Rivers Nyamwamba, Mubuku, Bulemba and Kitakena burst their banks and destroyed the surrounding homes, hospitals, gardens, roads and bridges in the District Kilembe Mines Health Centre and Bulemba Primary School.  The school is located at the epicentre of the floods, and is in the path of heavy rocks and boulders that crashed into everything in their way. By Monday 6th May 2013, ACT member, Church of Uganda in Kasese was hosting over 1,000 IDPs.  Another 2,000 were sheltering at the local Catholic Church compound. 300 households remain completely cut off in Katindo, Kakindo and Izinga localities.

The affected population, some of whom are sheltering in the local churches are in need of safe water, shelter and basic supplies for survival. The assistance already provided is inadequate but the need for has increased with the second flooding on 5th May.

Government, the Uganda Red Cross and NGOs are coordinating to evacuate people, create awareness on safety, control the flood waters, and provide life saving supplies, but these efforts are still inadequate to meet the needs of all affected.

The ACT forum is meeting regularly to discuss the level of the ACT response.  They are preparing an appeal request to the Alliance. ACT Uganda forum members are:  Church of Uganda (COU-PDR), DanChurchAid (DCA), ICCO/ Kerk-in-Aktie, Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Lutheran World Relief (LWR), Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC), Diakonia Sweden, Rural Action Community Based Organization (RACOBAO – new), CRWRC, Christian Aid (CA), Icelandic Church Aid (ICA), ECLOF.

The amount of USD 220,497 will be used to provide relief to 1’000 vulnerable households including: food and non-food items, support for early recovery and awareness for resilience.

For the full appeal document, please click here.

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