By Mariam Namakula
Families of over 350 people have on Friday 6, received relief non-food Items (NFIs) from the Uganda Red Cross Society in partnership with the office of the prime minister.
The support comes handy following a deadly flood and landslides that hit and ravaged the district early this week
On 2nd and 3rd May, Kisoro district, neighboring Rwanda to the south, experienced above-normal rains that caused heavy flooding and landslides, leading to the death of 8 people, and 6 injuries and destruction of food and property. The affected communities include villages of Bunyora and Kimbuba in Chibumba Parish, Chahafi town council.
In a statement released on Friday, Uganda Red Cross society notes that the supported families included those from selected households that were worst hit by the floods and landslide.
“Uganda Red Cross together with the community responders went to the rescue of the people, offered first aid to the injured and referred them to hospital for further management. The dead were retrieved from the rubble and accorded a descent burial,” statement reads in part
Adding that under the coordination of the Office of the Prime Minister, Uganda Red Cross worked closely with the Kisoro District Disaster Management Committee to complete rapid assessment in less than 24 hours to establish the magnitude of disaster and arranged delivery of relief aid to the affected communities.
Presiding over the distribution exercise, the Kisoro district Woman Member of Parliament, also the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Hon. Sarah Mateke appreciated the Society’s quick response noting that the nonfood items given were to help the people to develop coping mechanisms temporarily as Government also prepared to support them with any other support required.
Honorable Mateke had also represented the Minister of State for Relief and Disaster Preparedness, Office of the Prime Minister – Hon. Esther Davinah Anyakun.
Dr, Brian Kanaahe, Uganda Red Cross Director of Disaster Risk Management however, added that the relief was in collaboration with the Government, District leadership, and that he was very happy that they managed to put put a smile on the faces of over 300 people receiving these nonfood items.
Dr Kannahe notes that the past 2 days were filled with work as a team, carrying out rapid assessments and verification of beneficiaries to inform such a response.
“We have tried to respond within the turnaround time of between 12 -72 hours as per our emergency standard operating procedures. As the Red Cross, we find pride in alleviating the suffering of people, and saving lives,”Dr noted
Appreciating the coordination and collaboration with the district authorities but also extending his sympathies to the affected families.
Among the relief aid delivered include shelter kits, Tarpaulins, Blankets, Saucepans, Knives, plates, cups, Jerrycans, Mats, bars of soap, solar lamps, Aqua tabs (for water treatment), bed nets, and shelter kits containing digging kits to enable people set up new shelters.
The exercise was witnessed by the Kisoro District leadership, including the District Disaster Management Committee, Woman Member of Parliament for Kisoro, the RDC Hajji Shafic Kagimu, among others.
The Uganda Red Cross Society plays an auxiliary role to the State authorities of responding to disasters and other life-threatening emergencies in order to save lives.