Disease & Starvation Threaten 50,000 in Eastern Uganda

According to a recent press release, there are more than 50,000 citizens of Eastern Uganda whose lives are threatened because of disease and starvation.

But why? According to Three Loaves Fund who announced an appeal on behalf of a local Ugandan Christian relief organization, more than 50,000 citizens of Uganda have been left homeless as well as in danger of disease and starvation because of heavy rains that have stricken eight districts in Eastern Uganda. This rain is very unusual for this area. This information was also posted in "The New Vision," by the Ugandan Red Cross Society.

Apparently the government of Uganda doe not even know what to do about the situation. Their government for not have the money nor the resources to fully help all of the people in Uganda whom are in need. With this, government officials from Uganda have called for international aid, asking for assessments of the situation.

"We are in urgent need of funds from international relief groups so that we can give aid and comfort to our affected people. These farmers are our friends. In this last year, we helped at least 1,020 farmer households start to become self-sufficient. We gave them seeds and farm tools, and taught them how to grow their own food so that they start to become food secure and even have enough to sell. Now they see their crops rotting in the sodden fields, and they are devastated."

Ugandan officials are very nervous of what to expect if help is not given from other countries. According to a press release on 8/22/07 by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, things are likely only going to get even worse. Uganda is expecting rapid increases in cases involving intestinal, skin, respiratory, diarrhea, and malaria diseases as well as many other types of infectious diseases. This will lead to a true epidemic for this region if help does not come fast.

And that is not the only thing Ugandan officials are worried about. The Farmers who have begun to maintain some stability are once again in danger or loosing everything because of this devastating rainfall. If they do not receive help soon as well, the Ugandan economy will be hopeless.

"These farmers were once helpless and dependent refugees; now they are becoming self-sufficient. We cannot let their new-found hope be destroyed by the current floods. We must help them recover their lost livelihoods." SOURCE

Hopefully international aid as well as private donations will help this country get back on their feet. For more information, visit http://www.pilgrim-Uganda.org

SOURCE

PRnewswire