Starvation in Uganda

New Vision (Kampala, Uganda): The failure of two successive rainy seasons and the resultant food shortfall, coupled with last year's floods which destroyed crops means that three quarters of the one million people living in Karamoja will be at risk of starvation in the coming months," Rose Enyoru, the World Food Programme head of sub-office said. "These people are in dire need of food aid," Enyoru said.

Paul Lomanio, the LC5 chairman Kotido said many families have been surviving on wild fruits and rats which are also hard to find. "Children, the elderly people and women are the most affected," he said.

There have been warnings of drought and impeding famine for several months, but now the situation is reaching a crisis level. Lomanio added that the condition is so pathetic with several causalties and massive migrations.

Only last week, three people out of the seven admitted at Kotido Town Council Health Centre succumbed to hunger, Joshua Kodet, a clinical officer at the centre, said. "At first, we thought it was disease but when we confirmed it was starvation, we gave food to the four surviving ones and their condition is improving," Kodet said. Peterken Lochap, the LC5 chairman of Moroto district, said in August, 18 people died in Ngolereit Parish. Lomanio confirms that in May, 37 people died due to starvation at Panyangara sub-county in Lomokori kraal in Kotido….