Drought prompts Uganda to cut river Nile flow – BBC

Mar 8, 2006 (LONDON) — Uganda is to cut the flow of water through its main dam at the point where Lake Victoria feeds the Nile, blaming a widespread drought, the BBC reports on its Web site Wednesday.

The Ugandan government said the flow had been cut by almost a third to allow the lake to refill, as it is at its lowest level for more than 80 years.

At least 7 million people are estimated by the U.N. to need immediate food aid as a direct result of the drought. Other problems are expected to put more than 20 million in need in the next year.

James Morris, head of the U.N. World Food Programme, said an area from Eritrea to Tanzania was affected by the worst drought in decades. He said the body was appealing to its usual donors – Western nations and Japan – for more aid.

The full sorty is available at :http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4783388.stm

(ST/AP)