UGANDA: Uganda holds fund raising events to help flood victims
- 00:01:27
- ITN Source
UGANDA: Uganda holds fund raising events to help flood victims
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni joins money-raising activities for victims as the fallout from recent floods around Africa continues. Hundreds of people joined Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on a walk through the capital Kampala on Friday (October 5), as part of a fund-raising drive for victims of recent floods that have killed 20 and displaced 300,000. Uganda is one of the countries worst hit by torrential rains and floods that have swept over East and West Africa in recent weeks, destroying villages and washing away crops and livestock. "We are preparing a contingency plan for immediate response during the first 22 hours of any outbreak in order to contain it. We can not be too careful. With such plans in place, we can move quickly to avert the worst disaster, without these preparations, we run the risk of truly a catastrophic humanitarian disaster," said Theophane Nikayema, who is with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Conservative estimates put the number of people killed by the many deluges -- from Ethiopia in the east to Senegal in the west -- at some 200. Aid agencies say 1 million people have been affected. The three kilometre walk was part of an appeal made by the government and U.N. agencies for shelter, food and medicine. Uganda's private sector has also pitched in on the relief effort. Lillian Mbabazi, a presenter with Capital Radio, appealed to well-wishers for support. "The people in east and north eastern parts of Uganda have been hit by heavy floods leaving them with no food and in dire need of support," said Mbabazi. Her co-host, Gaetano Kagwa, also appealed to listeners for help with relief material. "Capital Radio is doing a run, yes. Save the flood victims collection store is right here at plot 18, Cooper road at Kisementi. All you have to do is to bring your contribution, it doesn't matter what it is by the way, it can be food, it can be clothes, it can even be basins, water basins," he added. The U.N. World Food Programme and Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs have made appeals amounting to 107 million US dollars. The Ugandan government has also set aside 22 billion Uganda shillings (12.54 million US dollars) for flood relief and repair efforts.
ITN Source | October 8, 2007
