$89m Appeal Highlights Emergency in North
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UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
November 19, 2002
Posted to the web November 19, 2002
Nairobi
An "urgent and rapid response" to emergency needs in the conflict-affected
north would be the main focus of humanitarian efforts in Uganda in 2003, the
United Nations said on Tuesday as it launched its US $89 million appeal for
the country.
The deterioration in security in the north had resulted in new displacement
of IDPs and refugees, an increase in human rights violations, and limited
access by humanitarian organisations to the displaced, the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in launching the
Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal (CAP) for 2003.
The focus of this year's appeal had therefore shifted from an emphasis on
rehabilitation and recovery in the north to emergency needs, such as food and
shelter, safe water and sanitation, and basic health services, the CAP
document said.
The most vulnerable groups included approximately 190,000 refugees, and an
estimated 660,000 IDPs, war victims, drought-affected people and HIV/AIDS
sufferers, it stated.
Aside from the emergency in the north, the Common Humanitarian Action Plan
outlined in the appeal document, would focus on some areas previously
affected by conflict which were continuing to experience relative calm, OCHA
said. In these areas, including southwestern Uganda and most of West Nile
region, transition and rehabilitation efforts would be pursued.
The projects requesting funding in this year's appeal were designed to meet
six objectives in 2003, including: support to the relief, return and recovery
of 550,000 IDPs; support to re-integration and demobilisation of
ex-combatants and abducted children; support to a self-reliance strategy for
Sudanese and other refugees; and support for peace and reconciliation, and
conflict resolution.
Some US $68 million had been requested for this year under the 2002
Consolidated Appeal, of which was US 33 million was requested for non-food
items. Those items were 47 percent funded as of the end of September,
according to the appeal document.
Analysis of the response to the 2002 CAP showed some "disturbing variations",
OCHA said. Certain sectors had suffered from a weak response, and 'recovery
and infrastructure' and 'protection and human rights' had received no funding
at all under the 2002 CAP. In addition, the International Organisation for
Migration, the World Health Organisation, and the United Nations Development
Programme had also not received any funding through the CAP.
The 2003 appeal is targeted at interventions in 10 sectors, including: food
(US $47 million); agriculture (US $4 million); education (US $2 million);
health (US $4 million); water and sanitation (US $1 million); and
multi-sectoral programmes (US $16 million).
"The humanitarian crisis in Uganda is far from over," OCHA warned.
Whereas, Ugandans of good will must and should welcome the move by Members of
the International Community to provide some sort of relief to our citizens in
Northern Uganda, it is incumbent upon members of the International Community
to impress upon Yoweri Museveni's NRM military dictatorship to resolve the
conflict in Northern Uganda peacefully. Indeed, it is now wildly believe, the
so called Museveni military option, has failed to bring an end to the war
in Northern Uganda.
Otherwise of what use is it to pump millions of dollars to help Northern
Ugandans while museveni carries on with his so called military option.
Matek
