Landfill Collapses in Uganda: Dead, Injured and Missing
Still unclear is the number of casualties caused by a waste landslide at the Kiteezi landfill, the only one in Kampala, Uganda, which has now become a large hillside
A mass of waste swept over people, homes and livestock. The most popular hypothesis is that heavy rains caused a landslide of waste.
Although the accident occurred on Friday, August 9, rescuers are still digging for the missing. At the moment, the death toll stands at 21, a number it is thought, unfortunately, will rise.
Some of the victims are children
The dead include minors. The dump is often populated by toddlers who are looking for plastic or other materials to collect for resale. This is part of the reason for Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni’s order to remove all children and evacuate the dump. More such incidents are feared.
A cry of mercy rises from the garbage heap
It is precisely from the degradation of the garbage dump that the cry of mercy rises loudly. It is the voice of children who are victims of a cruel and inhuman reality. The garbage, along with the lives of the victims, seem to erase all hope of the survivors.
However, it is precisely in these forgotten places that mercy can flourish with extraordinary strength through an act of compassion that comes from the heart, a call to recognize dignity in those who have been left on the margins.
Mercy to make these children, too often invisible in the eyes of the world, seen and considered. Mercy toward them means a commitment to respond to their suffering with concrete actions that can restore dignity and hope, reminding us all of the importance of caring for the least with love and respect.
The hypothesis of relocation
In Ugandan political circles, the possibility of relocating Kampala’s only landfill outside the city, even expanding its size, has long been discussed.
Recall that Kampala is the capital of Uganda and has more than 1.5 million inhabitants spread over an area of about 190 square kilometers.
This serious incident, also reignites the controversy among the population over the environmental and health damage that a landfill of that size can certainly cause.
Images
- adobe.com