originally published in the New York Times, United States
Over 10,000 people have been displaced and hundreds of thousands at risk in eastern Uganda as torrential rains continue after fatal mudslides swept away villages near the Kenyan border last week. According to a government minister, people taking refuge along the steep slopes of Mount Elgon near Bududa district were at imminent risk. “This is just one area,” said minister Oliver Wonekha, “we have people all over the mountain, and they are at risk.”
Uncharacteristic seasonal rains have continued in the area throughout the week, hampering relief efforts by humanitarian agencies, Uganda’s military and a number of American soldiers. The death toll from the mudslides has risen to 104 and over 300 are now presumed dead. Ms. Wonekha said heavy rains and more landslides were expected and said that Uganda’s prime minister was in the hospital after his helicopter crash-landed while returning from the region.
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