OCHA Situation Report No. 11
Uganda: Floods
23 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.

HIGHLIGHTS

- ROAD ACCESS HAS IMPROVED IN PAST WEEKS DUE TO DRY WEATHER

- 102 OF 110 SCHOOLS AFFECTED BY FLOODS HAVE REOPENED

- LOGISTICS INCREASES AMOUNT OF AID DELIVERED BY AIR EIGHT-FOLD IN 10 
DAYS DUE TO INCREASED HELICOPETER CAPACITY

Situation Overview

1. The humanitarian response to the flooding and water-logging in 
eastern and northern Uganda continues, even as the thin presence of 
humanitarian actors on the ground in southern Teso and Bugisu 
sub-regions has slowed the response.

2. Dry weather over most of the past two weeks has led to improved road 
conditions, although access challenges persist. Some bridges remain 
accessible only to lightweight vehicles (i.e. Agu bridge between Mbale 
and Soroti), while reliance on small boats to traverse the expanse of 
water at Awoja bridge (on the main road connecting Soroti to southern 
Kampala) and the Toroma-Magoro road continues.

3. Additionally, after a dry spell of nearly two weeks, rainfall has 
recommenced in Teso within the past three days.

4. The humanitarian response has had an observable impact in reducing 
the incidence of malaria in northern Teso districts, where 
insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have been widely distributed. 
Conversely, in areas where ITNs have not been provided, there has been 
an increase in the number of malaria cases reported.

5. Progress has also been made in terms of access to education: out of 
the 110 primary schools originally unable to reopen for the third term 
due to the impact of the flooding, only eight remain closed -- all in 
Bukedea district. However, many school sanitation facilities remain 
insufficient, with latrines waterlogged and in need of rehabilitation.

6. Constraining the response, inadequate drug supplies and understaffing 
in health facilities remain a key challenge.

Priority Needs

7. 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, OCHA-Geneva: +41 22 917 
2653, byrs@un.org.

Attachments:
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