UGANDA: Interview with the humanitarian coordinator
[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]
| Martin Mogwanja, acting United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Uganda. |
KAMPALA, 21 Apr 2006 (IRIN) - Martin Mogwanja is the acting United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Uganda where a
bloody conflict between the government and the rebel Lords Resistance Army (LRA) has displaced more than 1.7 million people in the northern region. He told IRIN that prospects for the return of the internally displaced persons to their villages are mixed. While those in the eastern districts have started going home, the situation remains fluid in the districts further north. Below are excerpts from the interview:
QUESTION: What is your assessment of the current humanitarian situation in northern Uganda? Is it time for the civilians who were displaced by the conflict to go home?
ANSWER: The population of IDPs [internally displaced persons] in Teso region [comprising the eastern districts of Soroti, Kaberamaido, Amuria and Katakwi districts] who were displaced in 2002/3 have started going home. In Lango region, which comprises Apac and Lira districts, the situation is much more mixed. In some parts of central Lira, for example, the IDPs are themselves spontaneously going home. In others, they are oscillating between home and the camps, depending on the situation. What the government needs to do now is to ensure that the security situation is stabilised over a long time in the areas of return so that the IDPs can go back home and stay there, knowing that their security is assured. Unfortunately, as long as there are attacks on vehicles and on people or abductions of women going to look for water, then the IDPs within the camps will remain fearful of returning home. We as humanitarians need to prepare for those who want to go home.
Q: The Ugandan government says the war is over and, therefore, the IDPs should go home. Do you agree with this view?
A: I am not making a comment on the war. The question is, What is the situation of the IDPs? They remain fearful because there have been a number of attacks, abductions, looting and violence committed against IDPs on the roads, around the camps, in the firewood areas and so on.
Q: Do you think the International Criminal Court (ICC) indictment of the LRA leaders has complicated the peace process?
A: The ICC indictment has produced a situation whereby five main individuals who are identified as the commanders of the LRA are now wanted. This means that all countries that have ratified the ICC treaty or are engaged in this matter have an obligation - if they come into contact with these people - to ensure their arrest and transmission to The Hague.
This further means that any country supporting the mediation effort in the war that has ratified the ICC treaty can no longer engage in that mediation. In that sense, the ICC warrant has blocked negotiations with these five individuals, but it has not blocked negotiations with other LRA commanders. It has also not blocked the possibility of civil society and religious organisations to mediate with the LRA, including with the five. We believe that the efforts of Betty Bigombe [former Ugandan minister and now mediator in the conflict] the Acholi leaders should continue within the limitations created by the ICC. The goodwill seems to exist for a negotiated settlement of this conflict.
Q: In the case of Kitgum district, for example, there is still a lot of apprehension and fear of the LRA. Many IDPs are not even thinking of going back yet. Do you see this as a longer-term challenge for the government?
A: The government has made a distinction between Teso and Lango areas - where it has said returns can begin - and the Acholi districts [comprising Gulu, Kitgum and Pader], where action is to be taken to ensure security. I am not surprised IDPs in Kitgum are saying, as of now, that they are not willing to go home, because they are still experiencing the kind of attacks, banditry and abductions that would make them fearful of going home. Have security conditions been created to allow the IDPs to go home? I want to emphasise that the [Ugandan] authorities have the duty to ensure security in the return areas.
Q: How are humanitarian workers preparing for the return of IDPs in places where they have already started returning? How about for the eventual return of those who have not yet started leaving the camps?
A: We are listening to the IDPs themselves. On the basis of surveys done in the camps, we have found that there are camps where 50 percent of the population have already gone home, and there are those where they are back and forth. This tells us that this population [who have moved] has confidence in the security situation in the return areas. We are working to build confidence so that more of them can go home on a more permanent basis.
We are conducting an interagency assessment - UNHCR [the UN Refugee Agency], in its new capacity as lead on this issue, is coordinating in Lira district; then we are working together with WFP [the UN World Food Programme] to ensure food rations; FAO [the UN Food and Agriculture Organization] to ensure seed and farming implements; UNICEF [the UN Childrens Fund] and WHO [the UN World Health Organization] on services such as health and water, etc. We need to know how many IDPs will be going to the parishes, and they should find the services they need there. It is not an easy process because the security situation can change overnight.
Q: How supportive have donors been to northern Uganda?
A: Donors have been extremely concerned about the humanitarian impact of the conflict on the population. They have challenged the government many times over the years on development issues, asking the government to allocate more resources - within the budget and the poverty- alleviation programmes - to northern Uganda. The second form of engagement has been through the UN or NGOs working in the region. Of course they have not done so to the extent we would want. We find in the appeals that about 50 percent is for food aid. In the other areas - non-food areas, health, etc - funding is much lower. We would appreciate more contributions in these other areas as well. But overall, donors have been contributing well over US $130 million a year for the last three years or so. In the context of northern Uganda, we would have preferred that those resources be used for reconstruction and development.
Q: There are camps in Soroti district where there is hardly any aid coming in at the moment - for example, Swaria, where they have not received anything substantial in the last two months or so. Is this a deliberate attempt to force people out of the camps and back to their villages?
A: The humanitarian community has worked with the government to support IDPs in camps in Soroti, Kaberamaido, but this support has been phased out as of the end of 2005, at the camp level. The support continues in terms of rehabilitating service-delivery points, such as health centres, boreholes, access roads, distribution of tools and kits in the areas of return. If there are communities still in camps in Soroti, they need to be aware that there has not been a major LRA attack in this area for the last 12 months or so. Conditions exist in Soroti for the IDPs to return home.
Q: In places like Kitgum, the NGO presence is bigger, but in Soroti it is much smaller. Is that part of the strategy to encourage the IDPs to go home so the NGOs can concentrate on where the IDPs are staying longer in the camps?
A: I dont think it is a strategy of moving NGOs around, because they go where they feel the need is greatest and are relatively independent. Humanitarian resources are allocated to responders who are working in the most disadvantaged areas - where we have IDPs most affected by the conflict. For example, IDPs who cannot till their land. When we do the judgement of the security situation in Kitgum and Soroti, the two do not compare. When you find more NGOs in Kitgum, that is where we are working more. I would, in fact, argue that there are not enough NGOs working there.
Q: How do UNICEF and the rest of the UN fit into the new Ugandan strategy for northern Uganda?
A: The government is proposing an intensification of existing activities - bringing them together into a comprehensive action plan for the next six months, guided and supervised by a joint monitoring committee. This proposal is still being discussed and yet to be finalised, but it is an opportunity for the government to demonstrate to the wider international community its intentions to address a broad range of issues as far as the IDP situation is concerned - for example protections of civilians, respect for human rights, return, reintegration and resettlement expansion of humanitarian action in the camps where people cannot return, replacing military policing by civilian policing in the camps, and so on. From the UNs perspective, many of the interventions are already being done.
We feel that with greater political engagement, which will be reflected by this joint monitoring committee - which will be chaired by the prime minister, with greater coherence of actions as reflected by the involvement of nine key ministries - this is a new opportunity for Uganda to move forward in responding to the rights and needs of the IDPs.
Q: When do you see this new strategy taking off?
A: It is a government programme. There are final drafts ready. We hope they will start its engagement in the very near future. But it is important to note that launching the programme is not the answer to the IDP problems - it is when the government shows leadership in implementing this plan, committing both political will and some of its own resources to implementation and when it holds its own officers and administrators accountable.
QUESTION: What is your assessment of the current humanitarian situation in northern Uganda? Is it time for the civilians who were displaced by the conflict to go home?
ANSWER: The population of IDPs [internally displaced persons] in Teso region [comprising the eastern districts of Soroti, Kaberamaido, Amuria and Katakwi districts] who were displaced in 2002/3 have started going home. In Lango region, which comprises Apac and Lira districts, the situation is much more mixed. In some parts of central Lira, for example, the IDPs are themselves spontaneously going home. In others, they are oscillating between home and the camps, depending on the situation. What the government needs to do now is to ensure that the security situation is stabilised over a long time in the areas of return so that the IDPs can go back home and stay there, knowing that their security is assured. Unfortunately, as long as there are attacks on vehicles and on people or abductions of women going to look for water, then the IDPs within the camps will remain fearful of returning home. We as humanitarians need to prepare for those who want to go home.
Q: The Ugandan government says the war is over and, therefore, the IDPs should go home. Do you agree with this view?
A: I am not making a comment on the war. The question is, What is the situation of the IDPs? They remain fearful because there have been a number of attacks, abductions, looting and violence committed against IDPs on the roads, around the camps, in the firewood areas and so on.
Q: Do you think the International Criminal Court (ICC) indictment of the LRA leaders has complicated the peace process?
A: The ICC indictment has produced a situation whereby five main individuals who are identified as the commanders of the LRA are now wanted. This means that all countries that have ratified the ICC treaty or are engaged in this matter have an obligation - if they come into contact with these people - to ensure their arrest and transmission to The Hague.
This further means that any country supporting the mediation effort in the war that has ratified the ICC treaty can no longer engage in that mediation. In that sense, the ICC warrant has blocked negotiations with these five individuals, but it has not blocked negotiations with other LRA commanders. It has also not blocked the possibility of civil society and religious organisations to mediate with the LRA, including with the five. We believe that the efforts of Betty Bigombe [former Ugandan minister and now mediator in the conflict] the Acholi leaders should continue within the limitations created by the ICC. The goodwill seems to exist for a negotiated settlement of this conflict.
Q: In the case of Kitgum district, for example, there is still a lot of apprehension and fear of the LRA. Many IDPs are not even thinking of going back yet. Do you see this as a longer-term challenge for the government?
A: The government has made a distinction between Teso and Lango areas - where it has said returns can begin - and the Acholi districts [comprising Gulu, Kitgum and Pader], where action is to be taken to ensure security. I am not surprised IDPs in Kitgum are saying, as of now, that they are not willing to go home, because they are still experiencing the kind of attacks, banditry and abductions that would make them fearful of going home. Have security conditions been created to allow the IDPs to go home? I want to emphasise that the [Ugandan] authorities have the duty to ensure security in the return areas.
Q: How are humanitarian workers preparing for the return of IDPs in places where they have already started returning? How about for the eventual return of those who have not yet started leaving the camps?
A: We are listening to the IDPs themselves. On the basis of surveys done in the camps, we have found that there are camps where 50 percent of the population have already gone home, and there are those where they are back and forth. This tells us that this population [who have moved] has confidence in the security situation in the return areas. We are working to build confidence so that more of them can go home on a more permanent basis.
We are conducting an interagency assessment - UNHCR [the UN Refugee Agency], in its new capacity as lead on this issue, is coordinating in Lira district; then we are working together with WFP [the UN World Food Programme] to ensure food rations; FAO [the UN Food and Agriculture Organization] to ensure seed and farming implements; UNICEF [the UN Childrens Fund] and WHO [the UN World Health Organization] on services such as health and water, etc. We need to know how many IDPs will be going to the parishes, and they should find the services they need there. It is not an easy process because the security situation can change overnight.
Q: How supportive have donors been to northern Uganda?
A: Donors have been extremely concerned about the humanitarian impact of the conflict on the population. They have challenged the government many times over the years on development issues, asking the government to allocate more resources - within the budget and the poverty- alleviation programmes - to northern Uganda. The second form of engagement has been through the UN or NGOs working in the region. Of course they have not done so to the extent we would want. We find in the appeals that about 50 percent is for food aid. In the other areas - non-food areas, health, etc - funding is much lower. We would appreciate more contributions in these other areas as well. But overall, donors have been contributing well over US $130 million a year for the last three years or so. In the context of northern Uganda, we would have preferred that those resources be used for reconstruction and development.
Q: There are camps in Soroti district where there is hardly any aid coming in at the moment - for example, Swaria, where they have not received anything substantial in the last two months or so. Is this a deliberate attempt to force people out of the camps and back to their villages?
A: The humanitarian community has worked with the government to support IDPs in camps in Soroti, Kaberamaido, but this support has been phased out as of the end of 2005, at the camp level. The support continues in terms of rehabilitating service-delivery points, such as health centres, boreholes, access roads, distribution of tools and kits in the areas of return. If there are communities still in camps in Soroti, they need to be aware that there has not been a major LRA attack in this area for the last 12 months or so. Conditions exist in Soroti for the IDPs to return home.
Q: In places like Kitgum, the NGO presence is bigger, but in Soroti it is much smaller. Is that part of the strategy to encourage the IDPs to go home so the NGOs can concentrate on where the IDPs are staying longer in the camps?
A: I dont think it is a strategy of moving NGOs around, because they go where they feel the need is greatest and are relatively independent. Humanitarian resources are allocated to responders who are working in the most disadvantaged areas - where we have IDPs most affected by the conflict. For example, IDPs who cannot till their land. When we do the judgement of the security situation in Kitgum and Soroti, the two do not compare. When you find more NGOs in Kitgum, that is where we are working more. I would, in fact, argue that there are not enough NGOs working there.
Q: How do UNICEF and the rest of the UN fit into the new Ugandan strategy for northern Uganda?
A: The government is proposing an intensification of existing activities - bringing them together into a comprehensive action plan for the next six months, guided and supervised by a joint monitoring committee. This proposal is still being discussed and yet to be finalised, but it is an opportunity for the government to demonstrate to the wider international community its intentions to address a broad range of issues as far as the IDP situation is concerned - for example protections of civilians, respect for human rights, return, reintegration and resettlement expansion of humanitarian action in the camps where people cannot return, replacing military policing by civilian policing in the camps, and so on. From the UNs perspective, many of the interventions are already being done.
We feel that with greater political engagement, which will be reflected by this joint monitoring committee - which will be chaired by the prime minister, with greater coherence of actions as reflected by the involvement of nine key ministries - this is a new opportunity for Uganda to move forward in responding to the rights and needs of the IDPs.
Q: When do you see this new strategy taking off?
A: It is a government programme. There are final drafts ready. We hope they will start its engagement in the very near future. But it is important to note that launching the programme is not the answer to the IDP problems - it is when the government shows leadership in implementing this plan, committing both political will and some of its own resources to implementation and when it holds its own officers and administrators accountable.
[ENDS]
Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.
_______________________________________________ Ugandanet mailing list [email protected] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. ---------------------------------------
