Humanitarian Relief / Aid
Over the past 23 years the people of Uganda (in the northern and some western districts) have been engulfed in a wounding environment of protracted and brutal wars, which started in 1986, by Lords Resistance Army, the most notorious and brutal rebel group that Africa has ever seen. The rebel activities has had a devastating effects on the life of children, women and their communities which has resulted into direct attacks and terror tactics on the population, massive internal displacement in poorly serviced and over crowded refugee camps, abduction of thousand of children, death and the destruction of homes, villages, health units and schools. This conflict has broken down the very fabric of civil society.
People are living in constant fear. Traditional customs, which used to bring communities together to discuss and solve problem and implement solution jointly are no longer followed. Safe protective family environment within which children should be developing no longer exist. Children have been forced to witness or participate in atrocities against their own communities and these are psychologically wounding events, but ones from which children can recover if given appropriate support to build on their natural resilience.
The needs assessment made in this area necessitated an immediate response of humanitarian relief aid to save the lives of children and all people whose lives have been devastated by the protracted brutal conflicts.
Action Line For Development together with Universal Aid Society of Canada are hand in hand to give humanitarian aid in order to alleviate some of the challenging situations. The program has supported over 100,000 people in giving them basic needs like food, clothes, beddings, blankets,home utensils,shoes and other basic materials, medical equipments and support to health centers and disabled,wounded,and sick people. The has now registered 250 vulnerable and orphaned children,130 women in an urgent need support.
This humanitarian advocacy is expected to further raise awareness and understanding of Government, Donors, NGO’s and the general public (population of Uganda) about the situation and internationally to contribute the early resolution of causes of the conflicts and work on the resettlement schemes.
The baseline survey carried out by ALFORD, confirmed the following threatening and disgusting scenerios as far as these war torn areas are concerned
Devastation of Children physically, Psychologically and Socially.
Children have been forced to participate in horrendous crimes outside of their understanding e.g. killing, raping, raiding and eating human fresh with devastating effects on their psychological well being.
Delinquency
Life in internally displaced people’s camps (IDPs) has had a disastrous effect on the children including exposures to high levels of promiscuity, substance abuse , unprotected sex and increased the number of teenage pregnancy for a girl child.
Orphan hood
Thousands of children have been orphaned due to these civil wars (conflicts) and the HIV/AIDS scourge.
Retarded growth
The wars have retarded the development of many children particularly those in camps where food and other basic needs are scarce. People living in these camps are having a very limited access to health care and many children suffer from malnutrition.
Abduction
According to reports from different core groups, NGOs, e.g. UNICEF, about 11,110 children were abducted between 1986 - 2003, 9818 of those abducted children were from northern Uganda. In 2002 about 7800 people were abducted and 4500 of these were children.
Child soldiers/Combatants.
Approximately 15000 children have been abducted and forced to join the rebel groups e.g. Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and others. It has been estimated that 50-70% of the rebel groups are children and between 3500 - 5500 children remain with these rebel groups.
Displacement
As a result of protracted wars, most of the people living in the districts of Lira, have sought refuge in a system of poorly serviced and overcrowded internally displaced persons (IDP) settlements. At its peak, over 1.8 million people were displaced in Acholi, Lango and Teso region of Northern Uganda. Initial displacement began in Lira in early 2000 and about 65% of the district population was estimated to be displaced by the end of 2004 .
Currently, in Lira district, the security situation has improved a lot evidenced by the ongoing Return Program, the actual move from camps towards the areas they used to live and to their villages. In March 2006, Lira had 40 rural and urban gazzetted (officially recognized) camps with a population of 350.828 IDPs. The first camps were gazzetted in 2001, but the majority was opened in 2003/2004, after an intense series of attacks by the LRA.
As of 1 September 2007, it is estimates that there are currently 9.257 IDPs living in 4 gazzetted rural camps in Lira district, 98% of the former IDPs have returned back home .
The return trend in Otuke County, Lira district, is the only part of Lira where the rate of return is slower (85% return), compare to other parts of the district (southern and central parts (98% of return). This means that majority of the populations are still staying in a camp stetting in Otuke county. The main factor resulting into this situation is Otuke’s unique position bordering Pader, Karamoja and Soroti. In this particular area, there is still a security threat from the neighboring cattle rustlering community, a security threat that has existed longer than the LRA incursions. Cattle rustlers still have similar methods of stealing cattle, rape, abduction and random murdering of the population. It is largely true that the fear of the castle rustlers sends strong notions about the return of these populations in their former dwelling places. To them staying together seems safer than going back home to face the wrath of rustlers who remind them of The LRA war mayhem. To the people of Otuke County, it is a situation of double jeopardy (cattle rustlers and the LRA incursion) that affects all the community members. Unless strong security measures are in place it may be a very slow rate of return for people in Otuke County to normalcy
Rape and defilement
The female abductees mostly the children become wives of the rebel commanders. Girls as young as 12-14 years old are repeatedly raped and bear children in a harsh condition of the bush with barely enough food to survive and no health care. Some of the abducted children most especially the girls are being traded as gifts to arms dealers in Sudan.
Social Disintegration
Living conditions in Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) camps have resulted in social disintegration. Signs of social breakdown include high levels of promiscuity, substance abuse, unprotected sex and increased number of child mothers.
Poverty
While in the camps, families live in poverty. Food is scarce, there is shortage of clean water and sanitation facilities, very limited access to health services and many infants suffer from malnutrition.
Economic Displacement
Families have been economically dis-empowered. Production of food for survival is almost impossible and sources of income like livestock keeping and business have been destroyed.
In some areas like Acholi, it is estimated that, over 300,000 heads of cattle, goats and sheep have been lost due to the conflict
Raids
Many families have been targeted during the Lords resistance army attacks resulting in death of parents, abduction of both children and adults.
Children being employed as domestic workers
Due to such alarming conditions, Many children especially the girl child run for their safety in search of domestic services (workers) in order to get food, clothes and shelter because they are orphans and have no where to go.. A very big number of these employers selfishly say that they are helping the children to earn money and reduce their (children’s) misery and that of their families. This is not correct, the truth is that most of them are very poorly paid if they are paid at all.
It is said that child domestic workers provide an opportunity to these children for better life in urban areas. This is not true! the fact is most of them are confined and discriminated in the homes of their employers with no opportunity for acquiring marketable skills.
Child domestic work is a grave form of a child abuse which can be eradicated with commitment on the part of government and the public.
We can actually stop child domestic work by educating/advocating other people in our communities about the dangers of child domestic work and importance of sending and training children in schools.
AN APPEAL
All of us have a moral duty to end the gross suffering of these innocent children and people due to armed conflicts. We encourage you to join hands with us as we dedicate all our efforts and strengthen towards restoring hope to the hopes ,giving food to the hungry, clothing the naked, empowering economically to support their households and sending an orphaned and vulnerable child to school.