Press Release
4 October 2007
UK announces £1.15 million for flooding in Uganda
Shriti Vadera, Minister for International Development, today committed more
aid to flood hit countries in Africa, through a £1.15 million contribution in
emergency aid to help the thousands of people who have been affected by the
recent floods in Uganda.
 Image courtesy of Sven Torffin, Panos
In announcing the funding, Ms. Vadera said:
"I am pleased to announce that the Department for International
Development is providing £750,000 to the World Food Programme (WFP) and
£400,000 to the Uganda Red Cross to contribute to the flood response in
Uganda. In partnership with WFP and the Red Cross, we are helping to ensure
that the immediate health, shelter and food needs of the people most
affected by the flooding are met."
"This money will: provide emergency food supplies to over 170,000 people;
help pay for a helicopter to access areas cut off by the floods; contribute
to the costs of a team of engineers carrying out emergency bridge repairs
and assessments and help provide emergency shelter, water and sanitation for
up to 150,000 people."
Excessively high rainfall across West and East Africa since late August has
caused extensive flooding and led to humanitarian crises across the regions. The
floods have claimed more than 250 lives and affected more than 1.5 million
people through damage to homes, facilities and crops. UN figures estimate that
around 300,000 people are in need of assistance in Uganda alone.
DFID is already the largest donor to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF),
having contributed £42.2 million this year. Uganda has already received £3
million from the CERF following the floods. DFID has also previously provided
£91 million to humanitarian response funds in Sudan and Ethiopia. These
resources are already being drawn upon to meet priority humanitarian needs. DFID
has already provided a further £250,000 through the Red Cross in response to
flooding in Ghana.
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For further information, contact Clare Ramsaran on 020 7023 1722, e-mail
pressoffice@dfid.gov.uk or call our
Public Enquiries Point on 0845 300 4100.
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