Uganda Red Cross volunteers have responded quickly to severe flooding, thanks to disaster preparedness projects partially supported by the British Red Cross.

The rainy season started early this year and has been unusually heavy, causing floods in the districts of Amuria, Katakwi, Lira, Bukadea, Kumi and southern parts of Pader. Uganda Red Cross volunteers have been putting their training to use by delivering household items to more than 7,000 families.

Ros Armitage, British Red Cross operations manager, said: "The British Red Cross and Uganda Red Cross have been working for years to ensure volunteers in these areas are trained and equipped. That's why their response has been so quick."

First aid and hygiene promotion in Uganda

Disaster preparedness projects in Uganda focus on training community-based volunteers in several areas of disaster management, including first aid and hygiene promotion, as well as equipping local Branches with the tools they need during a disaster.

The British Red Cross and Uganda Red Cross train up to 25 people per Branch to identify and report on disasters. They are able to alert the Branch and headquarters that there is a problem, carry out an assessment to identify what people need and then distribute items such as households kits, blankets and tarpaulins.

Volunteers are also trained in hygiene promotion, enabling them to raise awareness of simple ways in which families can protect themselves from getting diarrhoea, malaria and cholera.

Uganda Red Cross improves communications

The Uganda Red Cross has been building up its tele-communications equipment in local Branches so they are able to coordinate their response with headquarters. Being able to relay accurate information quickly is the backbone of emergency response.

The British Red Cross has been supporting disaster preparedness work in Uganda for several years and has launched an appeal to help their emergency response to the current floods.

To date we have raised more than £100,000.