By Allison G. S. Knox
Columnist, EDM Digest
Uganda and several other East African nations last month experienced major deadly flooding brought on by unusually heavy rains. More than 260 people across East Africa were killed, the BBC reported.
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The rains flooded areas around Mount Rwenzori in western Uganda after the River Nyamwamba burst its banks, forced more than 100,000 people to seek refuge in nearby schools and destroying roads and bridges, according to Africa CGTN.
“Hundreds of people have been killed by floodwaters in Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Rwanda and Ethiopia which have also displaced hundreds of thousands across the region,” the continent’s news medium added. “Nearly 200 people in Kenya have been killed by the floods, which have also displaced 100,000 more.”
It’s Imperative to Help When a Nation Experiences a Natural Disaster
While the situation in Africa was localized to several neighboring nations, everything about humanity is interconnected, especially where politics is concerned. On a macro level of analysis, “in a globalized world” countries are connected by economies and alliances.
Thus, it becomes imperative to help when a nation experiences a natural disaster. Uganda’s situation requires attention from the international community. But that assistance will prove to be problematic, given the coronavirus pandemic that has killed at least 380,000 people worldwide.
Civil Unrest in One Country Can Create Problems for the World Community
In addition, civil unrest in one country can create problems for the world community. When major emergencies are not handled well, civil unrest can quickly become a catalyst to other problems. Civil unrest can affect neighboring countries because they are tied together economically, creating potential security problems for the affected country and surrounding nations.
Where a country’s infrastructure breaks down and its people don’t have food, water or shelter, many will flee and burden another country’s infrastructure. We’ve recently witnessed that phenomenon in Venezuela, when thousands of Venezuelans began fleeing into neighboring Colombia as a result of the deepening economic and humanitarian crisis precipitated by the Maduro government in Caracas.
Considering the emergency situation in Uganda with its displaced population and ravaged infrastructure, it is particularly important for the international community to assist in the recovery process and prevent civil unrest.
Not providing international assistance would create numerous obstacles and potentially a snowball effect of callous indifference to international problems. Starting at the core of the problem in Uganda is simply imperative.