More than 15 landslide victims in Kapchorwa district have cried out for help after their houses were buried by boulders. The landslides occurred on Wednesday the previous week in Kaplete village in Were Parish in Kaserem Sub County. Seven people were injured afterfour houses were buried by the soil and several hectors of crop gardens destroyed. 82-year-old John Mudede, who survived the landslide with his wife Loyce Mudede after their house was partially destroyed, says one week after the incident they have neither received any assistance from government nor humanitarian agencies.
Mudede says that he has since abandoned his house and relocated into a cave with his wife where they have been spending their nights. When URN visited their devastated home over the weekend, Mudebe emerged with his wife from the cave which he has turned into a house. Mudede says they cannot risk sleeping in the house, part of which has been destroyed. He says that sleeping in that house is like taking his family into a death trap as landslides could bury them anytime.
Simon Kakwilat, another survivor explains that they experienced something like a tremor before he heard a bang which was followed by the landslides, which covered the bedroom where his children were sleeping. He says they ran out but heard one of the children crying for help under the rubble. Kakwilat says that he immediately called for help and they pulled him out. He said four of his children sustained injuries and were rushed to Kapchorwa hospital.
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Yonah Mwanaga, the LC I chairperson of the area who also survived the landslides says he lost ten hectors of Irish potatoes and three hectors of beans to the landslides. Mwanga complains that almost a week after the incident government has left them unattended to. He says even Uganda Red Cross Society that assessed their situation has not returned to give them support.
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Wilfred Seyfuwa, the area LC II chairperson is equally concerned about the plight of the landslide survivors. He says despite giving a situational report about the incident to Kapchorwa District Local Government, Uganda Red Cross Society and Ministry of Relief and Disaster preparedness, no relief assistance have been given to the survivors. He says some of the survivors are stranded as they have no were to go and are being assisted by their village mates who contribute for them food.
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Stephen Wamukota, the Eastern Regional Manager of Uganda Red Cross Society, says they have identified a total of 33 households of more than 200 people at a high risk in Kaplete village. He appeals to government to ensure they are evacuated immediately. He says Red Cross will mobilize relief items for distribution to the affected families as they find alternative places to relocate.
The affected areas surround the more than 10 km-long Mt. Elgon ridge overlooking Kapchorwa town.
Denis Olaka
Guest