Floods displace 500 people in Gulu

Gulu, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  Floods have displaced more than 500 people in four villages of Pagik Parish, Paicho Sub-County in Gulu District. More than 600 acres of crop gardens have also been destroyed.

The affected villages include Dwere; Bokeber, Bura and Ajanyi. The families have sought refuge in neighboring Paibona Sub-County. 

Denis Komakech, a farmer in Bura village and father of 11 children says that the family’s six acres of soybeans in which he had invested 1.8 million shillings to cultivate were submerged in the floods. 

Walter Acire, another affected farmer in the same village is worried of starvation and shattered livelihoods because five acres of simsim, beans and cassava gardens were devastated by the week-long downpour. 

According to Philip Ongwec Agella, the Chairperson Local Councillor II of Pagik Parish, the area started experiencing floods as early as June but worsened in the last two weeks.  

Agella further explained that the livelihoods of the entire 9,000 residents of the area are at risk of starvation, food insecurity and further displacement if heavy rains continue. Local leaders have also divulged that several pit latrines have collapsed threatening possible of an outbreak of cholera.

Jackson Lakor, the District Production Officer has described the situation as a big loss of livelihoods to both subsistence and small scale commercial of farmers in Gulu.  He revealed that a team of Agricultural extension service providers have been dispatched in the area to assess the damages. 

The affected residents have petitioned the office of the Resident District Commissioner, Maj. Santo Okot Lapolo to forward their plights to the Disaster Department in the Office of the Prime Minister for food relief and shelter.

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