22-011-RO Alert Note Floods Uganda (Not activated)

Seniors without Borders has submitted an alert note regarding floods in Eastern Uganda, in the districts of Mbale and Bukadea. The floodings started at the 29th of July and have had a severe impact in the area. More that 800 families have lost everything, up to 20.000 gardens with crops and animals have been washed away. A number of farmers have been killed by mudslides or have drowned. The infrastructure is severely damaged: roads, electricity, bridges, water supply and sanitary installations. A high number is without housing and a situation with widespread hunger must be forseen.

The immediate impacts of this flooding include loss of human life, damage to property, destruction of crops, loss of livestock, and deterioration of health conditions owing to waterborne diseases. As communication links and infrastructure such as power plants,
roads and bridges are damaged and disrupted, some economic activities may come to a standstill, people are forced to leave their homes and normal life is disrupted. Similarly, disruption or damage to infrastructure has also caused negative impacts, such
as disruptions to supplies of clean water, wastewater treatment, electricity, transport,communication, education and health care. Loss of livelihoods, reduction in purchasing power and loss of land value in the flood plains which may in a way leave communities
economically vulnerable.

Flooding is key in agricultural production areas and has led to widespread damage to crops and loss of livestock. Crop losses through runoff water damage, waterlogged soils, and delays in harvesting are further intensified by transport problems due to flooded roads and damaged infrastructure such as broken bridges. The flow-on effects of reduced agricultural production can often impact well outside the production area as food prices increase due to shortages in supply. Following the prolonged dry spell that heat most crop gardens in Eastern and North Eastern Uganda shortly after flowering, farmers had been left hoping against hope they would make good use of the second season planting however this has been frustrated by washing away of 20,000 gardens
and displacement of over 800 households besides the 23 reported dead, as the search for an unspecified number swept by the flash floods continues.