Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kampala (Agenzia Fides)-“The rains have stopped for the moment but the waters have not subsided and most of the country is isolated due to a break down in communications” said local Church sources in Uganda, one of several African countries devastated by serious floods (see Fides 20, 21 and 24 September 2007).
“The worst affected areas are the north east and the centre of the country where the water level is still high” the source told Fides. “Damages to crops is enormous, harvests have been lost and there will a food shortage in the months to come. International organisations, the European Union and various countries are working with the World Food Programme WFP to provide emergency food supplies and the Ugandan government has launched an emergency aid programme”.
“Uganda is almost self-supporting with regard to food, except for the Gulu area where civil war led by the Lord's Resistance Army forced the people to flee their homes and live in camps assisted by the WFP and other organisations because the situation of insecurity prevents the people from working their land” our sources recalled. “The floods came just after a cease fire agreement which had allowed the people to return to their villages and fields. But the floods destroyed the harvest and the people had to return to the camps to find food. These people have already suffered tremendously during the civil war and they long for a normal life” the sources told Fides.
“Through Caritas Uganda, the local Church is collaborating with local NGOs to assist the people. So far the floods have spared the capital Kampala, the west and the West Nile Province, where the waters have risen but the River Nile has not overflowed. It is feared that more rain in the coming months could affect other parts of the country” the sources conclude.
Despite serious damage to crops and infrastructures the Ugandan finance minister said the expected growth of the economy will be reached. Speaking to the press in Dar es Salaam, in Tanzania, where he is taking part in the Aid for Trade Meeting (see Fides 1 October 2007), Mr Ezra Suruma said he is confident that Uganda's economy will grow 7%. The minister said the floods caused considerable damage and destroyed 30 bridges but the massive increase in the capacity of the rivers will enable Uganda to overcome the energy crisis which has affected the country for some time. Hydroelectric plants are now working at full capacity and the government intends to build more plants in the near future. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 2/10/2007 righe 35 parole 489)
