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Napak, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More than 900 people have been displaced by floods in Apeitolim sub county, Napak district.
For the last two days, the Karamoja region has been receiving heavy rains and Napak and Nakapiripirit districts being on the lower side have been affected.
Naboth Opolot, the area chairperson local council two, of Arengepua village in Apeitolim sub-county said a total of six villages have been affected by the floods. The affected sub-counties include Akworo, Aolio, Apeduru, Aputon, Akworo and Alungar.
Moses Eriaku, the vice chairperson of Aolio village said many people are now sleeping in the cold and urged for help from well-wishers.
“The situation is bad and we are afraid that many children might end up suffering from malaria and cold-related diseases,“ he said.
Betty Amongin, a farmer and a resident of Akuwor said she had planted three acres of sorghum but all has been destroyed.
“I borrowed money from the savings group for opening up the land expecting to return after harvest, now I don’t know where to start from”, she said.
Gloria Nakiru, another farmer appealed to the government for relief saying many families have been affected. She adds that all the sorghum she has stored in the granaries has all got destroyed.
“We are now starving, we don’t have any food as of now and we don’t have anything for sleeping, all our belongings got soaked and spoiled by water,” she said.
“All the sorghum I have has been destroyed, I have nowhere to go,” she said.
Simon Okotel, the district councillor for Apeitolim sub county said that all the crops planted and those to be harvested have all been destroyed.
He proposed that the situation can only be addressed if the government can open water channels from Akworo to Lala dam through Alungar and then another from Apuuton to Aolio so that water stops flooding people’s homes and gardens.
He appealed to development partners to rescue locals with tarpaulins and mosquito nets.
“People have nowhere to sleep, we are appealing to the government to come to the rescue,” she said.
John Paul Kodet, LCV chairperson Napak said whenever the region receives heavy rains, Napak district gets affected.
He appealed to the government to embark on constructing big dams to avoid the district getting flooded whenever it reaches the rainy season.
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