Severe floods that are ravaging parts of Uganda have so far displaced about 15,000 people and cut off a number of rural areas from the rest of the country.
Most parts of the country have been virtually affected by the floods, similar to those that devastated the country last year, according to the Daily Monitor on Tuesday.
In Moroto district of the northeastern region, the authorities told the newspaper that up to 12,000 people have been displaced by the floods since the beginning of this month.
Ken Lochap, district local council chairperson, said most of the displaced people are now camped in primary schools and health centers after they abandoned their homes.
"Floods are everywhere given the heavy rainfall patterns. In fact the entire district, especially the sub-counties of Lotome where two parishes have all flooded. In Nabwai, the road has been destroyed and the area is completely cut off from service delivery. At Rupa and Katikekile sub-counties, crops, livestock and property have been destroyed," he said.
A similar situation is reported in parts of eastern, central, northwestern and western regions where floods have destroyed crops, houses, damaged the road network and displaced thousands of people.
"Hundreds have been displaced with no humanitarian intervention. As we talk now, various roads and a key bridge in West Nile have been washed away. We need help otherwise floods may soon start killing people," Kaps Fungaroo a member of parliament from the northwestern region told reporters here on Monday.
He said more than 1,000 people in the West Nile region have been displaced.
So far two deaths have occurred in Nakapiripirit and Bukwo districts. Last year's floods led to the deaths of 47 people.
The Ugandan government issued a flood alert in August, warning that several parts of the country faced flooding due to heavy rains expected in September or October.
It warned people on mountain slopes in western and eastern regions to be prepared for relocation because the rains may cause landslides in those areas.
Last year, the government declared a state of emergency in the flood-prone areas, attracting a lot of humanitarian assistance.
Source:Xinhua
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