New Vision (Kampala)

Uganda: Bududa - Children Most Affected

Kampala — Most of the dead and displaced victims of the landslides that hit Bududa district two weeks ago are children, relief agencies have said.

According to the Red Cross, 2,531 of the survivors from 10 of the 14 villages devastated by the landslides are below 18.

Save the Children said children make over 50% of the 95,000 displaced people. Even the dead were mostly children, it added.

Yesterday, the Prime-Minister's Office and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) warned that the Mt. Elgon region is likely to be hit by more landslides during this El-Nino period.

The revelation was made yesterday at a ceremony where disaster preparedness minister, Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere, received several donations to aid the people affected by the landslides which covered three villages.

Kabwegyere said the Government was considering calling off the search for bodies buried under the debris.

NEMA's Dr. Mary Gorretti Kitutu explained that the debris could have crashed the bodies and turned them into soil.


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