KAMPALA, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Uganda on Monday launched an emergency food relief operation for the semi-arid northeastern region of Karamoja, as a prolonged dry spell has caused crop failure and food shortages.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja announced in the capital, Kampala, that 9.4 million kg of relief food, including maize flour and dry beans, will be distributed to 313,987 households across 480 parishes in the region's nine districts.
According to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, the intervention is intended to support communities affected by the prolonged dry spell, which has disrupted agricultural production, depleted household food stocks, and heightened the risk of food insecurity.
"The government stands with the people of Karamoja and will continue to mobilize the necessary resources to support their recovery and build resilience against future shocks," Nabbanja said.
She also urged all leaders and officials involved in the operation to ensure that the relief food reaches the intended beneficiaries.
The statement said the government remains committed to implementing long-term measures to strengthen communities' resilience to recurrent dry spells.
Earlier this month, the government reported that 16 people died from acute food shortages caused by the prolonged drought in the region. ■