Not Activated: 22-015-RO Altert note Response to Floods and Mudslide affected communities in Mbale and surrounding districts on the slopes of Mount Elgon

Alert Title: Floods and Mudslides in Mbale and surrounding, Uganda Alert Type: Rapid Onset Crisis

Crisis country and location(s): Mbale and surrounding districts on the slopes of Mount Elgon, Uganda

Alerting Organisation(s): International Aid Services (IAS)

Date Received: 29-9-2022 Decision Date: 3-10-2022

By: DERF Fund Management

Decision: Not to activate the DERF to respond to floodings in Mbale and surrounding, Uganda.

Reason:

DERF recognize the rapid onset humanitarian crisis the floods in Mbale and the surrounding districts in Uganda have caused. The alert is nevertheless rejected because is it assessed as not to be timely in terms of enabling organisations to respond within the first 3 months of the start of the crisis. With heavy rains reported on July 30, the floods and mudslides have started on July 31, which is the date of the start of the humanitarian crisis.

The mandate given to the DERF requires that the process of assessing alerts, opening a call, approving applications, and giving grantees 7 days to start implementation, can be completed within 3 months of the start of the humanitarian crisis. It is assessed that this is not possible in this specific case.

Background for assessment:

On 30th July 2022, eastern Uganda received 10 hours of continuous heavy rains in the Elgon region causing floods in the districts of Mbale, Kapchorwa, Bulambuli, Bukedea, Butaleja Sironko, and landslides in Bududa. The start date is the main reason for why the DERF cannot open a call for applications based on this alert.

According to the situation analysis by the IFRC from August 15, the flooding led to loss of 21 lives in Mbale and 3 lives in Kapchorwa districts respectively with an unknown number of livestock lost. A total of 3,748 households composed of 20,949 individuals were affected. The office of the Prime Minister and UNHCR have provided minimal relief support in terms of food assistance, tarpaulins and blankets to 1000 households, Uganda Red Cross Society supported 1,547 households and AWYAD together with Help Age supported 450 households. This means 751 households have not received any assistance and dearly need emergency support.

The weather forecast by the Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) for the Elgon region for August 2022 has projected enhanced rains for the region with the possibility for the flooding challenges to continue throughout the month of September.

The ongoing response by the Ugandan Red Cross and other actors seems to already target the most vulnerable population and cover the identified needs. Furthermore, the situation is already in the recovery phase of the response and therefor beyond the mandate of DERF.