Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) has launched an emergency appeal to support Bududa landslide victims and warned that three other districts close to Mt Elgon are at risk of a similar disaster.
“We seeks to raise 1.2 billion shillings which will support over 6000 people in the Elgon region,” Mr Robert Kwesiga, the URCS secretary general said during a press conference at the Red Cross Head Quarters in Rubaga on Wednesday.
Mr Kwesiga said satellite images indicate that at least 4,000 families may be affected if they are not evacuated immediately from landslide prone regions in Namisindwa, Butalejja and Manafwa districts.
“These regions are showing early signs of looming landslides,” he emphasised. “These are natural disasters, which must occur because you have no control over what triggers them but we can warn the people about them before they occur so that we do not lose lives.”
As UG Christian News reported earlier, the 11th October tragedy in Bududa left 43 people dead, over 150 families injured or displaced in areas including Naposhi, Nalutumu, Wanjenuwa, Tsuume, Lwanda, Mayika and Nalwanza villages in Bukalasi Sub-county.
Mr Kwesiga said the affected lack basic needs such as shelter, clean water, and food and their inadequacy breeds other problems such as cholera outbreak, malaria and psychological trauma.
On Sunday, Uganda Red Cross with support from the Belgian Red Cross tool relief aid to the victims Communications Assistant at Uganda Red Cross Society, Mr Aggrey Nyondwa confirmed that the distribution happened during prayers held for the victims at Bukalasi playground in Bududda.
The Hon. Prime minister launched the distribution and appreciated Red Cross for always working with government to support during such emergencies.
Items worth Ush 50 million were given out and these included; Soap, Blankets, tarpaulins, kitchen sets, jerry cans and so on. Over 680 people benefited from the distribution, according to Mr Nyondwa.
Seeking to help Bududa landslide victims? Contact 0774382583 / 0755000695
