Floods Displace Over 4,000 Families In Amolatar

AMOLATAR – Flash floods caused by the rising water levels of Lakes Kyoga and Kwania have displaced more than 4,000 families in Amolatar district.

The floods have submerged several kilometers of the district’s land and roads, disconnecting a number of community members from accessing social services.

Unlike last year, where only six out of 16 sub-counties in the district were affected, this year the entire district is experiencing the floods with most crop gardens that had survived the drought getting submerged in water alongside many households.

Nalobwoyo is one of the sub-counties completely cut off by floods. Its residents have to pay about Shs 3000 to be able to cross on a canoe to access medical services at the only Health Center (HC IV) in the district.

Victims however, fear they could be hit hard by famine and are calling for immediate relief supplies such as food relief, fast growing seeds, and shelter among others.

Alfred Ebong, a resident of Ocamolum parish says he almost lost his 4-year-old son when he failed to get to the health center due to the floods.

“I have now resorted to treating the child with local herbs, there is no way I can access the government health facility because all roads are cut off,” he said.

Francis Ojok, a resident of Opira “A” village, Nalibwoyo parish, Nalibwoyo sub-county is worried that people may start to die of hunger.

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Geoffrey Ocen, the District LCV Chairperson says the district is doing all it can to fix the roads.

“We are doing all we can to try to fix the problem, I am calling upon the central government to consider allocating more funds on road works in order to improve accessibility,” he said.

Moses Junior Okot B’tek, the Kioga County Member of Parliament argued that the entire population of Amolatar district should have been considered and supported instead of giving Covid-19 relief funds to vulnerable people in urban centers.

He says through the Lango Parliamentary group, he will keep pushing for the plight of the people of Amolatar until the government takes action.

“The vulnerability of the people of Amolatar that was caused by dry spells and floods should be known to both the Minister for Disaster Preparedness and the Prime Minister. Desperate times bring desperate means so we shall use desperate means to catch their attention.” he said in a telephone interview.

The kind of flooding being experienced in Amolatar District now is believed to be a repeat of what happened in 1964 where the entire district was covered in floods.

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