TEN SPECIAL centres for starving children are being set up in the Karamoja region of north east Uganda. They are being financed with money from various international agencies including the European Catholic organisation Caritas.
The centres will remain in the area for at least two years because charity workers know that the serious food shortages are certain to continue for some time to come.
Karamoja is experiencing what has been recognised as one of the most serious famines anywhere in the world in the last decade. Harrowing pictures of dying and emaciated children, have helped to provoke a huge response from the international community since they were circulated nearly two months ago. The disaster area in fact covers six countries affected by drought and political and military conflict: they are Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya and Sudan.
In Britain the East Africa Emergency Appeal, launched by five major Third World charities, including Cafod, at the beginning of June, has now passed the £5 million mark. The six week appeal, officially ended last Friday but money is still corning in and the final total is expected to be at least £5.5 million.