HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN NORTHERN/EASTERN UGANDA

BACKGROUND OF THE ARMED CONFLICT

The Acholi Sub-Region lies in the Northern part of Uganda and it is situated- along the Uganda Sudan border. This region has undergone Civil wars for the last 17 years between the government and the Lords Resistance Army LRA, a rebel group whose beliefs are rooted in Christian Fundamentalist doctrines and traditional religions. Seeking to establish its own rule based on the Biblical Ten Commandments. The Northern/Eastern war affected Districts are Gulu, Kitgum, Lira, Apach, Soroti, Katakwi and Pader. The population of this region is estimated at 3.284.157 Millions.

Since the entry in June 2002 into Northern Uganda of an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 LRA combatants, the Humanitarian situation in Northern Uganda had degenerated to emergency levels. The rebels have burnt down villages, destroyed properties, destroyed food crops in the fields, abducted children, killed and maimed people. Similarly, in August 2003 the LRA rebels moved to the Eastern region where they have equally caused havoc in killing innocent people, abducting Children, destroying property e.g. burning houses, & looting property e.t.c. For the last 18 years, the Lords Resistance Army has continued to terrorize the people of Northern/Eastern Uganda. The LRA has been notorious in abducting children whom they have turned into Child Soldiers and, in the case of young girls, as sex workers . The LRA has carried out widespread destruction of property, reportedly killed hundreds of people and have been responsible for massive displacement of people. Most of the displaced people have been living in Displaced Peoples Camps (IDP’s) since the war broke out in 1986. Current UN statistics puts the figure of Internally Displaced People (IDP’s) in North/Eastern Uganda at 1,600,000 as a result of the Lords Resistance Army insurgency, the worst hit districts by the insurgency are Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Lira, Apac, Katakwi, & Soroti.

However, the population around major towns is still living in their homes during the day & trek to towns in the evening in search for security. The most affected section of the population by this practice are Children between the ages of 4-16 years (main rebel target). The deplorable and inhuman conditions the people are going through cannot be ignored by the world around them.

DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT SITUATION (SITUATION ANALYSIS)

Due to continued rebel attacks, Civilians killings, abducting, burning houses, destroying property, the villages have become insecure and inhabitable. The few urban and rural centers still considered safe have become congested with people seeking safety, stretching local capacities to the limit and posing serious health risks to hundreds of thousands of people without shelter or access to basic services.

The main towns in the region are Kitgum, Gulu, Pader, Lira, Apac, Katakwi, and Soroti have become overcrowded with displaced people seeking refuge in Hospital Compounds, Schools, Churches and shops Verandas and under trees in such facilities without any protection from rain & mosquitoes. In the month of July and August Lacor Missionary Hospital in Gulu district was hosting up to 40,000 people every night. These people run away from the villages when it comes to the evening and they return to the villages in the morning for cultivation.

Due to the cruelty of the rebels, a big number of people have feared to go back to their villages, such people have been kept in protected camps scattered allover the region. The protected camps in the North/Eastern region are 249 in number and they accommodate 1,600,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) of which 49% of the IDP’s are Children. The internally Displaced Persons in the protected camps lack various basic needs which include the following, Food, Medicine, Blankets, Sauce pans, Plates, Cups, Basins to mention but a few.

EFFECTS OF THE WAR