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Nearly two million people are currently food insecure in Uganda, including about 1.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in civil insecure northern Uganda, over 700,000 people in the northeast (Karamoja) affected by three consecutive, annual, lower than normal agricultural seasons, and about 200,000 people affected by floods in eastern Uganda.
Food insecurity continues to deteriorate in Karamoja, northeastern Uganda, where more than 700,000 people will require assistance until the next harvests in September/October 2008.
Pervasive livestock diseases in Karamoja are compounding food insecurity in the region, further degrading households' coping capacities and incomes. Specifically, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is pandemic and has resulted in the death of an estimated 550,000 goats and sheep, the main livestock raised by poorer households as a food alternative and quick source of income. There are currently no PPR controls in place. In June, however, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) procured approximately 500,000 vaccines to use in the management of the disease. An additional 500,000 doses, however, are required to mitigate its spread and impact.
Elsewhere in the country, household staple crop supplies remain normal and are gradually increasing with the start of the near normal harvests despite dryness. Any dry commodities from this season will be available in markets after August to augment current supplies. Meanwhile, market prices remain higher than normal, limiting access for market-dependent households, especially in Karamoja.
Flood-affected people transport their belongings to safer places through a flooded road in the northern Indian city of Lucknow August 29, 2008. Villagers were eating uncooked rice and flour mixed with ...
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