KAMPALA (AFP) — Uganda declared a state of emergency Thursday across several northern and eastern regions worst-hit by rains and floods that have affected an estimated 1.5 million people across Africa since August.
Last week the Ugandan government said 18 people had died due to the flooding and some 400,000 people were in need of assistance after being driven from their homes by the fast-rising waters or losing their livelihoods.
The situation has since worsened with more rain, helping the floods destroy houses and bridges, force whole refugee camps to be evacuated and render millions more dollars worth of crops valueless.
"A declaration for a state of emergency has been made," Tarsis Kabwegyere, Uganda's minister for disaster preparedness and relief, told AFP.
Kabwegyere said the government had earmarked 11.5 million dollars (8.2 million euros) to buy food supplies and tarpaulins, and to deliver them to the affected communities by road and air.
Forecasters are predicting more rain to come and aid workers say they fear the toll could rise sharply as diseases threaten the parts of Uganda that are least prepared to deal with them.
"Disease outbreak is looming as the water table rises in the region where we have some of the most ill-equipped health facilities in the country," said Grace Akwango from the Johannesburg-based NGO ActionAid.
"Our joint interventions are not enough," she added in a statement.
Her organisation said people were fleeing affected areas in dug-out canoes, often without any warm clothing and exposed to water-borne diseases.
"Now that the government has finally declared a state of emergency for the north and eastern regions, it needs to direct the appropriate amount of support to guarantee the safety and security of its citizens," said ActionAid Uganda chief Amanda Serumaga.
In neighbouring Kenya, President Mwai Kibaki led the delivery of several trucks of humanitarian supplies to the flood-hit western town of Budalangi.
At least 15 people have drowned and tens of thousands been displaced in Kenya since the onset of the flooding and the president has announced major damming projects to try and stave off further disaster.
"We will construct three major dams (along River Nzoia) so that we ensure there will be no more flooding," Kibaki said in Budalangi, where aid groups have moved in to prevent the spread of diseases.
Last year, unprecedented floods displaced 700,000 people in the east African nation.
According to the United Nations, at least 1.5 million people have been affected by floods in Africa since what have been described as the worst downpours in 30 years started sweeping the continent in August.
At least 270 people have died as result of the floods and waterborne disease across 18 affected countries, according to an AFP tally from governments and humanitarian aid organisations.
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