MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

“Several districts in Uganda will need urgent relief aid to mitigate the risk of starvation following poor rains that have affected this year’s harvest, the Minister for Disaster Preparedness warned.

Most of the affected districts are in Karamoja where the situation was particularly unique because crop failure and a prolonged drought had aggravated the region’s food crisis, Musa Ecweru said.

‘Arrangements are under way by government to deliver enriched food supplements to help feed close to 2,000 severely malnourished children in that region,’ the minister told IRIN on 26 July.

Fifteen districts have been tagged a red-zone area (at risk of starvation if there is no urgent relief intervention) by the government, including Moroto, Napak, Kotido, Amudat, Kaabong, Nakapiripirit, Abim (all in Karamoja), Amuria, Katakwi, Adjumani, Arua, Koboko, Moyo, Yumbe and Bulambuli.

Karamoja has the lowest levels of human development in Uganda. Only 30 percent of the people have access to safe water; only 11 percent are literate and nearly 80 percent experience some degree of food insecurity, according to UN data.” Read more.