30 hospitalized after eating poisoned WFP porridge
Amudat district health inspector Mr. Simon Elimu addressing the families who ate the suspected poisoned porridge on Wednesday in Alakas village in Amudat district. PHOTO STEVEN ARIONG
Amudat. A total of 30 people from different families in Alakas village, Amudat Sub County in Amudat District in Karamoja sub-region are fighting for their lives at Amudat Hospital after eating porridge suspected to have been poisoned.
The victims were ferried on Wednesday to Amudat hospital where they are getting treatment.
According to the LC3 Chairperson of Amudat Mr. Andrew Ruto Losia, the victims started complaining after preparing and eating porridge supplied to them by UN agency - World Food program.
He said WFP on Tuesday distributed porridge flour to 120 households and that so far everyone who prepared the porridge flour and consumed it including children complained of stomach upset whereas others fainted.
“We can’t tell whether the porridge flour that World Food distributed to the families had chemicals in it until we get the result from the government laboratory but as for now we are all confused,” he said.
Mr. Losia said the whole sub-county has been thrown into panic adding that other households that had not prepared porridge flour have poured it.
Amudat district police commander Mr. Samson Muyamba confirmed people have been admitted adding that they are investigating the matter.
He said samples from the victims have been sent to the government laboratory.
Mr. Peter Kusolo the district health director Amudat who is also a surgeon at Amudat hospital explains that no death has been registered adding that all the victims are responding to treatment.
Mr. Ryan Anderson, the World Food Program Deputy Country Director in his email statement confirmed the incident saying the UN WFP team has been deployed to investigate the incident.
“WFP is aware of the issue reported and its team has been deployed immediately working with the district leaders and health teams in Amudat to investigate the matter.
He added that “We cannot tell at the moment what the problem is exactly and if it is related to WFP’s food. It is our utmost priority to ensure we provide safe and nutritious food to all the people.”
