OCHA Situation Report No. 10
Uganda: Floods
19 October 2007


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. Access constraints, as well as 
the thin presence of humanitarian actors on the ground in some of the 
affected areas, especially in Bugisu subregion, remain the key 
impediments to the humanitarian response.

2. As of 18 October, the Awoja bridge connecting Soroti to southern 
Uganda (via Mbale) remains impassable. However, light 4x4 vehicles are 
once again passing from Mbale to Soroti at Agu bridge. Drivers taking 
this route should expect delays.

3. Most overland routes connecting Teso and Karamoja sub-regions through 
eastern Katakwi district remain difficult to access by land, 
particularly with heavy trucks, while Magoro sub-country and parts of 
northern Katakwi district, as well as parts of Amuria district north of 
Kapelebyong, are cut off due to impassable roads.

4. Health risks continue to be a major concern. Access to health care 
service, inadequate staffing and short supply of drugs to functional 
health facilities are of specific concern. The danger of epidemic 
disease outbreaks continues to be of concern.

5. Generally, the affected area has experienced a dry spell over the 
past fortnight, with attendant draining of surface water from the 
ground. The contrasting weather conditions - alternating between rain 
and water-logging and very dry, sunny spells, has caused the formation 
of a superficial layer of hard soil in fields, which once again is 
paralyzing agricultural activities and threatening the successful 
resumption of food production. 6. 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.

7. Planning for the humanitarian response to the disaster continues to 
be based on some 50,000 households, or approximately 300,000 people, 
being affected by the rainfall and associated flooding.

Priority Needs

8. The priority areas for the response, as identified by the 
Humanitarian Coordinator following consultation with the clusters and 
the Government, remain:

- Stabilising the initial food security situation;

- Preventing disease outbreaks and ensuring capacity to respond to 
health emergencies;

- Re-opening schools and ensuring access to primary education;

- Responding to the urgent needs of the most vulnerable;

- Ensuring physical access to the most vulnerable, and continuing 
inter-cluster assessments;

- Understanding the early recovery needs of the affected population and 
prioritising recovery interventions.

For more information, please contact:

Kristen Knutson, Public Information and Donor Liaison Officer, 
OCHA-Uganda: +256 312 244 888, +256 772 759 996 (mobile), 
knutson@un.org;

Lydia Mirembe Ssenyonjo, National Information Officer, OCHA-Uganda: +256 
312 244 890, mirembessenyonjo@un.org;

Chris Hyslop, Desk Officer, OCHA-New York: +1 917 367 9457, 
hyslopc@un.org;

Stephanie Bunker, Public Information Officer, OCHA-New York: +1 917 367 
5126, +1 917 892 1679 (mobile), bunker@un.org;

Elisabeth Byrs, Public Information Officer, OCHAGeneva: +41 22 917 2653,
byrs@un.org.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=104832BFA1B679D88525737900674967&file=Full_Report.pdf

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -