BY JOACKIM KULE
Action against Hunger in partnership with Foundation for Rural Advancement (FURA) yesterday launched a six – month project codenamed “Integrated Response to Floods and Landslides in Kasese District.
The project is aimed at mitigating the diverse impacts of floods and landslides in Kasese through the provision of needed humanitarian and lifesaving services among others to the flood victims.
It is expected to benefit 18,000 people in nine selected sub- counties including Kyondo, Buhuhira, Maliba, Kyarumba, Nyakabingo, Mahango, Muhokya, Bwesumbu, Kyarumba and Town Council.
Addressing the press yesterday shortly after an inception meeting with different stakeholders, partners and the district leadership at TJ Global Hotel in Kasese town, Mr. Ronald Ouma, the Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at Action against Hunger, explained that the implementation of the project would start with effect from next week.
Ouma stressed that they secured funding amounting to more than shillings 1 billion from the Swedish International Development Agency to facilitate the activities aimed at helping disaster victims.
He noted that during the project implementation, they would distribute water treatment chemicals, procure and distribute some household hygiene and baby wash kits, rehabilitate damaged water sources, install gender sensitive communal latrines and bath shelters.
Other areas of intervention include focusing on the promotion of hygiene, education, water quality monitoring and installation of hand washing facilities; enhance access to emergency nutrition services and distributing cash to persons affected by floods.
Mr. Chrispus Mbauta, the Chief Executive Officer at FURA stressed that they wouldn’t entertain political issues during the project implementation in order to achieve success.
Mr. Mustafa Kikusa, the Kasese District Principal Assistant Secretary in the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer told the partners that district has got many other people who were affected by floods and are not living in camps due to some social challenges, adding that such a category of people should also be catered for during the project implementation.
Mr. Yonasani Kisole, the District Councilor representing Kitholhu Sub-county, who represented the District Chairperson, asked the local leaders to own the project and ensure that all the intended beneficiaries are supported.
ENDS