Mudslides last week in Uganda's Mt Elgon region have displaced hundreds and killed at least 80 people with scores more feared dead. At least one village associated with the Gumutindo Cooperative-- our partners in Uganda-- was wiped out.

Below is a letter from Willington Wamayeye from Gumutindo to Colleen Coy who will lead our upcoming delegation to Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania:

Dear Colleen,

We very much your sypathies and I will definitely pass them over to the affected farmers.

I sent my team to assess the situation, they are back assembling the report. The situation is a state of flux, although the humatarian part of the disaster is more or less addressed, ie the sentlement of people in camps, provision of food and temperary shelter. The government and the Red Cross and some other orhanizations have provided some of the immediate needs of the survivours.

We have chosen to look at the long term needs of the survivours, the more reason we went for a more comprehensive report, detailing the individual survivours who belong to our cooperative and their neighbours. After we have assessed the medium to long term needs of the survivours, only then can we then ask some of trading partners like you with specific proposals. I believe this is better than for us to saturate the disaster area with relief food and forget the long term needs of the survisors, which i do believe are not being considered by government and others.
 
As for yours, please keep us updated on the itinerary so we prepare for you.

Thanks