Authorities in Dzaipi sub-county, Adjumani district, are requesting the government to promptly move the Nyumanzi Refugee Settlement. This appeal is a response to the flash floods that have resulted from continuous heavy rainfall in the West Nile region.
For three consecutive years, Nyumanzi Refugee Settlement and its nearby areas have been inundated by floods. Each time, these floods have left both refugees and the local host communities in dire need of assistance.
The recent flooding has forced numerous refugee families to endure cold nights. Among the host community, the floods have devastated crop gardens and grazing land, causing the loss of livestock.
James Ondonga, the chairperson of Dzaipi sub-county, stated that they have decided to relocate the settlement, which is located between two streams in the path of water flowing into the Albert Nile. He also pointed out that the settlement was hastily established in 2013 during an emergency period when refugees, primarily from South Sudan, were arriving in Uganda.
Ondonga noted, “Parts of the central market area are the most affected, with homes sitting in water. We will conduct an assessment to determine how many households will be affected by our proposed relocation.”
A rapid assessment report carried out by Dzaipi sub-county authorities and disaster response agencies has also identified damage to road infrastructure caused by the floods, making some areas inaccessible.
Nyumanzi Refugee Settlement, which currently accommodates over 50,000 refugees, includes a reception center for new arrivals.
The Uganda National Meteorological Authority had previously forecasted flood hotspots in many areas of Dzaipi sub-county, including Nyumanzi, due to the El-Nino weather phenomenon.
Emmanuel Agasi, the disaster response project officer working for Community Empowerment for Rural Development, emphasized that the early warning signs were clear, and the identified hotspots by the UNMA require immediate attention.
