The following report comes from Sr Rita Miller who has been raising funds for flood relief and channelling these through Kagando and Rwenzori Women for Health (RWFH) to reach affected people.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/rita-miller-1715417880479

When there’s hunger and barely any food to eat, and the dirty river water can make you sick when you drink it; when you are worried that you have no more clothes to tear up for use as sanitary pads and are resorting to using banana leaves, when you’re sharing a pit latrine with little privacy …when all dignity is gone and you have lost all, the tomorrows look bleak… it lifts the spirit knowing someone does care.

Sr Merecy & Nurse Joshua from Rwenzori Women for Health did an incredible job of purchasing and distributing provisions for two camps holding over 700 people.

As it was impossible to get any type of vehicle across the rickety bridges, many were waiting on the roadside for the team to arrive. Once the distributions were made they were tied securely on the backs of the volunteers or perfectly balanced on their heads (the majority would have been women) and taken to the Camps. There was much cheering when the provisions were distributed: not only food but important safe water tablets, soap, jerrycans, cups, iron sheets and nails for making temporary latrines, and the much awaited re-usable menstrual pads. Apparently the women were so happy they waved them about!

Whilst at the Camps Joshua and Merecy did Health education talks, with Rev Zepheniah holding a short service.

It’s still the rainy season, and the banana-leaf tents give some, but not much, protection. At Bughungu a local church is being used as a dormitory and Red Cross kindly gave a big tent for shelter. Apparently there was some food given by local government to a couple of the Camps which they then shared with other Camps… We hope that the team will soon be able to reach the other camps and assess the situation.

Kagando hospital now has water. The hospital’s Executive Director, Canon Uzziah Kiriaghe told me that temporary repairs at the source of the river have been made. However the filtration system needs to be cleaned, treated and basically improved. Long term the building of a robust infrastructure around the source of the river is required, as well as planting of bamboo trees to protect the river bank. The cost to the hospital will be in the region of £15,000 – an enormous sum, and one which it cannot afford without significant help.

Time and time again I find the good Lord comes to the rescue,