Red cross introduces cash payment to disaster victims

Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  |  More than 200 flood victims in Namabasa Sub County in Mbale district have received cash donations from Uganda Red Cross Society-URCS to compliment the food and nonfood relief items.

The money is being out to the flood victims through mobile money transfers. On Tuesday, URCS paid out Shillings 84 million to the residents affected by floods that hit Mbale and Butaleja districts in December last year.

The floods destroyed crop gardens and livestock. URCS provided the victims with food and nonfood items.

However, Joram Musinguzi, the Cash Transfer Project Programs Officer, says they have moved in with the E-cash program to complement the existing disaster response mechanisms.

He explains their assessment shows that Cash Based interventions are feasible and that Mbale was selected for a pilot study. Robert Kwesiga, the General Secretary Uganda Red Cross Society, says the E-Cash system is meant to compliment the usual nonfood relief items provided during disaster response.

He says the system will provide the affected people chance to choose want they want during or after the disasters.

Kwesiga says the introduction of the E-cash system has officially been launched in Namabasa, adding that it will be rolled out to other areas if it succeeds.

The cash payment is meant to enable the families meet basic needs like food, health and education among others. Residents welcomed the move, saying that this has been simple and quick for them.

Azena Musenero, a resident of Doko Namabasa said that she has registered for relief several times but she has never received any. She however, says that she has been able to receive the cash payment.

Margret Gimbo, another victim says that she plans to renovate her house, which was destroyed by the floods. She has been sharing one room with her 9 children.

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URN