OCHA Situation Report No. 7
Uganda: Floods
9 October 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

- DOWNED BRIDGES AND IMPASSABLE ROADS THREATEN TO CUT OFF TESO 
SUB-REGION

- NEW AIR ASSETS ARRIVE IN COUNTRY; BY END OF WEEK THREE HELICOPTERS AND 
ONE AIRPLANE ARE EXPECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL

The information contained in this report has been gathered by the Office 
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) from sources 
including the Government of Uganda, UN agencies, non-governmental 
organizations and the Red Cross movement

Situation Overview

1. The humanitarian response to the flooding and water-logging across 
eastern and northern Uganda continues, with the clusters deploying daily 
operations in the Teso sub-region from the regional coordination hub in 
Soroti.

2. Health risks continue to be a major concern, with unconfirmed reports 
of several fatal cases of pneumonia in parts of Katakwi district. Access 
to health care service, particularly in cut off areas, is of specific 
concern, as is the potential for epidemic disease outbreaks. Contingency 
planning for the latter event is ongoing in Soroti.

3. Overall, flooding, water -logging and mudslides have affected the 
following districts: Amuria, Bukedea, Kaberamaido, Katakwi, Kumi and 
Soroti in Teso subregion; Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum and Pader in Acholi 
subregion; Amolatar, Apac, Dokolo, Lira and Oyam in Lango sub-region; 
Abim, Kaabong, Kotido, Moroto and Nakapiripirit in Karamoja region; 
Bududa, Bukwo, Kapchorwa, Mbale, Manafwa and Sironko in Bugisu (Elgon) 
sub-region; and Adjumani, Ar ua, Moyo, Nebbi and Yumbe in West Nile 
sub-region; as well as Kiboga and Kamuli districts in central Uganda.

4. President Yoweri Museveni declared the country's first-ever State of 
Emergency in flood-affected areas of eastern Uganda on 19 September, 
which was endorsed by Parliament on 25 September.

5. On 5 October, the President addressed participants in a charity walk 
organized by the Teso Flood Relief Task Force, pledging the Government's 
support for the survivors and prioritizing the reconstruction of roads 
and bridges in the affected region. On 7 October, the President 
addressed local residents at the Soroti Hotel and toured parts of the 
affected area.

6. The Government has established a regional presence of the Office of 
the Prime Minister in Soroti to assist in coordination of the floods 
response.

7. Current planning for the humanitarian response to the disaster is 
based on some 50,000 households, or approximately 300,000 people, being 
affected by the rainfall and associated flooding. This planning figure 
may be expected to change as additional assessments come in and/or 
depending on whether the intensified rainfall continues.

8. The Uganda Department of Meteorology's seasonal rainfall forecast for 
September to December predicts high chances for normal to above normal 
rains to continue over most parts of the eastern region of Uganda.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=E47C96EA50BEB3E68525736F0061E403&file=Full_Report.pdf

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