Floods hit Elegu, thousands left homeless

28 August 2017

Text and Photos: LWF/ S. Nalubega

Household materials and food on a tree top in Elegu B.

Amuru district- Thousands homeless, hundreds of these living on the road while others have sought refuge in a neighbouring school after Unyama river in Elegu, Amuru district burst its banks.

This followed a one and half days' heavy downpour that saw the river full to the extreme hence bursting its banks, sending off fierce water that destroyed people’s homes. “Despite the heavy rains, the floods and damage were unexpected,” said 35-year-old James Akeri who explains that the area had previously experienced similar heavy rains but none had caused severe damage.

“Over 4,000 people have been affected by the floods and left homeless, we have advised them relocate to Elegu Primary School, which is currently dry and safe,” said Alice Akello Ekanya, Amuru district’s Councillor.

Some have moved to the school for safety while others have stayed back home, to protect the little they are left.

“We have carried some of the belongings we are left to the roadside, and the rest to tree tops. Some of us stay home to protect those that hang on tree tops during the day, when night falls, we walk to the road where we sleep until dawn,” Akeri said.

Other than their houses, the affected people have lost their food both in granaries and gardens as well as other belongings. “We have lost everything, we could afford our basics but not anymore,” cried 48-year-old Plora Kazoa whose house, household materials, livestock, a food crop garden and money have been washed away by the running water.

“My son’s school fees is gone. The floods have taken away his opportunity to go back to school for the next academic term,” Kazoa adds explaining that he will have to stay home until she finds money to pay for his school fees.

Elegu refugee collection centre, roads and bridges have not been spared. Unyama bridge in Okidi parish, Atiak sub-county was also washed away. The bridge was the only route humanitarian organizations like LWF use to connect to refugee settlements in the West Nile region and Lamwo district like Palabek settlement.

Plora Kazoa with some of her household materials at a Gulu-Nimule highway where she currently stays.

Food, shelter, household materials are needed

With gardens submerged in water and harvested food washed away, the affected people are in need of food. “We don’t have food, I go out to the muddy gardens to collect the little left but it’s all rotten, my children and wife are hungry,” said Akeri.

Other than food, Kazoa says they are in need of shelter. Ekanya explains that the district plans on relocating them to Bibia municipality which is safe and about 4 kilometres away. “We are in talks with land owners in Bibia to give us portions of their land where we can settle the affected people but, we don’t expect the process to be swift,” she added.

LWF staff distributing core relief items to the affected people at Elegu primary school.

LWF offering assistance to the affected

Geremew Yadessa, LWF’s Team Leader in Adjumani says that LWF is providing the affected people with tarpaulins to construct temporary shelter as they wait to be shifted to Bibia.

Other than tarpaulins, LWF is providing them household materials like saucepans, utensils. “We are also giving them soap and water purifier to help in preventing them from getting infected with waterborne diseases,” Yadessa added.

However, resources at hand are inadequate compared to the demand as explained by Yadessa who says that hundreds of households have received core relief items but thousands of people have not received any and remain in need. “Thousands are in need yet we are out of core relief materials to supply. Our ability to assist these people in need has been cut short by resources,” he added.

Yadessa appeals to the donor community for assistance so that LWF continues to assist those affected by floods in Elegu.